News
Tesla shares updates on workplace safety, CAL-OSHA investigation results
During the recently-held third quarter earnings call, CEO Elon Musk and VP for Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) Laurie Shelby briefly discussed the safety initiatives that the company has implemented to keep its factory workers as safe as possible. In one of her remarks, the VP of EHS noted that it is an exciting time for Tesla today, as the company is making the “safest cars made by the safest people.”
In a recent blog post on Tesla’s official website, Laurie Shelby elaborated further on the company’s safety programs that were rolled out over the past year. Since joining Tesla back in October 2017, Shelby stated that her EHS team had grown to 250 employees, including 35 EHS staff in the Fremont factory alone. Several programs, some of which were teased during the earnings call, have also been started as part of Tesla’s pursuit of becoming the safest car factory on the market.
Back in June, for example, Tesla the started transitioning to a new occupational health clinic in the Fremont factory. These clinics are overseen by a leading California orthopedic surgeon specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal injuries, which comprise around 85-90% of injuries in Tesla’s facilities. Shelby pointed out in her update that prior to its current system, Fremont’s health facility provided a lineup of services that was primarily focused on triage and first aid. With the newly rolled out clinic, Tesla’s workers can receive on-site, specialized care from full-time physicians who can provide medical assessments and immediate diagnosis.
As part of Tesla’s Early Symptom Intervention program, the company has also begun sending professional athletic trainers on the factory lines to identify potential injuries before they occur. These trainers are tasked with offering on-site evaluations and suggestions for improved ergonomic safety. So far, trainers have conducted more than 6,000 consultations with Tesla employees from the General Assembly, Seats, and Production Control lines, to name a few.
Perhaps most notable in the EHS VP’s update, though, was additional information on the CAL-OSHA investigation that was conducted earlier this year. Back in April, an expose by news agency Reveal based on accounts from alleged insiders and previous workers at Tesla accused the company of intentionally misreporting its injury rates. The expose blamed much of Tesla’s alleged safety problems on Elon Musk himself. At one point, for example, the publication noted that Tesla didn’t have enough hazard markings on the factory floor because “Elon does not like the color yellow.” Tesla promptly fired back, strongly denying the allegations in the report. A CAL-OSHA investigation into Tesla’s alleged malpractice eventually followed.
-->During the third quarter earnings call, Laurie Shelby noted that the CAL-OSHA investigation lasted four months, and the organization found no misreporting on Tesla’s part.
“The company here had a 4-month long Cal-OSHA investigation. And it basically proves that we are recording properly and doing as we should be. So it’s much different than what you would read about in the press,” she said.
In her safety update, Shelby added that after an extensive review of Tesla’s legally mandated records, injury logs, and safety policies, CAL-OSHA identified only two minor issues. One was an extension cord connected to a fan that created a potential trip hazard, and another was a date of injury that was incorrectly logged. Tesla promptly addressed the extension cord issue, while the incorrectly logged date of injury was immediately clarified and confirmed by a medical provider.
In true Tesla fashion, the company has ambitious goals when it comes to the safety of its employees. Earlier this year, for one, Shelby wrote a post announcing the company’s target of becoming the safest car factory in the world. The VP for EHS noted then that ultimately, workplace safety comes down to a combination of common sense, a culture that values safety, and a series of proactive preventive measures. If her recent update is any indication, it appears that over the past year, Tesla has started to make progress on all three fronts.
The full text of Tesla VP for EHS Laurie Shelby’s entire update could be accessed here.
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News
Waymo driverless taxi drives directly into active LAPD standoff
No injuries occurred, and the passengers inside the vehicle were safely transported to their destination, as per a Waymo representative.
A video posted on social media has shown an occupied Waymo driverless taxi driving directly into the middle of an active LAPD standoff in downtown Los Angeles.
As could be seen in the short video, which was initially posted on Instagram by user Alex Choi, a Waymo driverless taxi drove directly into the middle of an active LAPD standoff in downtown Los Angeles.
The driverless taxi made an unprotected left turn despite what appeared to be a red light, briefly entering a police perimeter. At the time, officers seemed to be giving commands to a prone suspect on the ground, who looked quite surprised at the sudden presence of the driverless vehicle.
People on the sidewalk, including the person who was filming the video, could be heard chuckling at the Waymo’s strange behavior.
The Waymo reportedly cleared the area within seconds. No injuries occurred, and the passengers inside the vehicle were safely transported to their destination, as per a Waymo representative. Still, the video spread across social media, with numerous netizens poking fun at the gaffe.
-->Others also pointed out that such a gaffe would have resulted in widespread controversy had the vehicle involved been a Tesla on FSD. Tesla is constantly under scrutiny, with TSLA shorts and similar groups actively trying to put down the company’s FSD program.
A Tesla on FSD or Robotaxi accidentally driving into an active police standoff would likely cause lawsuits, nonstop media coverage, and calls for a worldwide ban, at the least.
This was one of the reasons why even minor traffic infractions committed by the company’s Robotaxis during their initial rollout in Austin received nationwide media attention. This particular Waymo incident, however, will likely not receive as much coverage.
Tesla Model Y demand in China is through the roof, and new delivery dates show the company has already sold out its allocation of the all-electric crossover for 2025.
The Model Y has been the most popular vehicle in the world in both of the last two years, outpacing incredibly popular vehicles like the Toyota RAV 4. In China, the EV market is substantially more saturated, with more competitors than in any other market.
However, Tesla has been kind to the Chinese market, as it has launched trim levels for the Model Y in the country that are not available anywhere else. Demand has been strong for the Model Y in China; it ranks in the top 5 of all EVs in the country, trailing the BYD Seagull, Wuling Hongguang Mini EV, and the Geely Galaxy Xingyuan.
The other three models ahead of the Model Y are priced substantially lower.
Tesla is still dealing with strong demand for the Model Y, and the company is now pushing delivery dates to early 2026, meaning the vehicle is sold out for the year:
NEWS: New orders for all four Tesla Model Y trims in China are now officially sold out for 2025, as the factory’s remaining production capacity for the year has been fully allocated.
Estimated delivery dates for new orders now show January-February 2026. pic.twitter.com/Dfnu7yY58N
— Sawyer Merritt (@SawyerMerritt) December 1, 2025
Tesla experienced a 9.9 percent year-over-year rise in its China-made EV sales for November, meaning there is some serious potential for the automaker moving into next year despite increased competition.
There have been a lot of questions surrounding how Tesla would perform globally with more competition, but it seems to have a good grasp of various markets because of its vehicles, its charging infrastructure, and its Full Self-Driving (FSD) suite, which has been expanding to more countries as of late.
Tesla Model Y is still China’s best-selling premium EV through October
Tesla holds a dominating lead in the United States with EV registrations, and performs incredibly well in several European countries.
With demand in China looking strong, it will be interesting to see how the company ends the year in terms of global deliveries.
News
Tesla Europe rolls out FSD ride-alongs in the Netherlands’ holiday campaign
The festive event series comes amid Tesla’s ongoing push for regulatory approval of FSD across Europe.
Tesla Europe has announced that its “Future Holidays” campaign will feature Full Self-Driving (Supervised) ride-along experiences in the Netherlands.
The festive event series comes amid Tesla’s ongoing push for regulatory approval of FSD across Europe.
The Holiday program was announced by Tesla Europe & Middle East in a post on X. “Come get in the spirit with us. Featuring Caraoke, FSD Supervised ride-along experiences, holiday light shows with our S3XY lineup & more,” the company wrote in its post on X.
Per the program’s official website, fun activities will include Caraoke sessions and light shows with the S3XY vehicle lineup. It appears that Optimus will also be making an appearance at the events. Tesla even noted that the humanoid robot will be in “full party spirit,” so things might indeed be quite fun.
“This season, we’re introducing you to the fun of the future. Register for our holiday events to meet our robots, see if you can spot the Bot to win prizes, and check out our selection of exclusive merchandise and limited-edition gifts. Discover Tesla activities near you and discover what makes the future so festive,” Tesla wrote on its official website.
-->This announcement aligns with Tesla’s accelerating FSD efforts in Europe, where supervised ride-alongs could help demonstrate the tech to regulators and customers. The Netherlands, with its urban traffic and progressive EV policies, could serve as an ideal and valuable testing ground for FSD.
Tesla is currently hard at work pushing for the rollout of FSD to several European countries. Tesla has received approval to operate 19 FSD test vehicles on Spain’s roads, though this number could increase as the program develops. As per the Dirección General de Tráfico (DGT), Tesla would be able to operate its FSD fleet on any national route across Spain. Recent job openings also hint at Tesla starting FSD tests in Austria. Apart from this, the company is also holding FSD demonstrations in Germany, France, and Italy.
Waymo driverless taxi drives directly into active LAPD standoff
Tesla Model Y demand in China is through the roof, new delivery dates show
