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Tesla’s matte black Semi prototype makes rare appearance in Kettleman City Supercharger
After staying under the radar for the past few months, Tesla’s matte black Semi prototype has been spotted on US roads once more. This time around, the all-electric long hauler was sighted pulling a trailer at the 40-stall Kettleman City Supercharger, located between San Francisco and Los Angeles.
The matte black Tesla Semi prototype was photographed by Tesla enthusiast James Douma, who noted that he spotted the vehicle on Wednesday afternoon. In a conversation with Teslarati, James stated that the vehicle seemed to be traveling alone, as the truck only had one person inside. Such an observation is quite interesting, considering that the silver Semi test mule traveling across the United States is usually accompanied by a team of engineers.
The Tesla enthusiast also remarked that he was informed by the staff of the Kettleman City Supercharger that it was the first time the matte black Semi prototype visited the location. The silver Semi test mule, on the other hand, has reportedly visited the site on four different occasions. The matte black Semi did not stay very long in the Kettleman site on Wednesday, though, as the vehicle promptly left the location soon after the photos were taken.
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- Tesla’s matte black Semi prototype makes a rare appearance at the Kettleman City Supercharger. (Photo: James Douma)
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- Tesla’s matte black Semi prototype makes a rare appearance at the Kettleman City Supercharger. (Photo: James Douma)
Tesla’s matte black Semi prototype makes a rare appearance at the Kettleman City Supercharger. (Photo: James Douma)
Sightings of the Tesla Semi during recent months have featured the silver test mule, which has been spotted in multiple states across the US. The matte black Semi, which also made an appearance at the vehicle’s unveiling back in November 2017, was last seen in April as it was being transported on a trailer heading east into I-80 in the Des Moines, IA area, near the headquarters of Ruan Transportation Management Systems, a reservation holder for the all-electric truck.
Prior to that, the matte black Semi was sighted a couple of times with its silver sibling, as the vehicles transported cargo between Tesla’s Fremont factory and Gigafactory 1 in Nevada. The last sighting of the matte black truck traveling alone was back in January, when it was filmed driving down a street in Sunnyvale, CA. While the electric car maker has not provided a reason behind the vehicle’s absence during the past few months, it is nonetheless refreshing to the see sleek prototype back on the roads once more.
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- Tesla’s matte black Semi prototype makes a rare appearance at the Kettleman City Supercharger. (Photo: James Douma)
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- Tesla’s matte black Semi prototype makes a rare appearance at the Kettleman City Supercharger. (Photo: James Douma)
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- Tesla’s matte black Semi prototype makes a rare appearance at the Kettleman City Supercharger. (Photo: James Douma)
Tesla’s matte black Semi prototype makes a rare appearance at the Kettleman City Supercharger. (Photo: James Douma)
The Tesla Semi has the potential to be the company’s most disruptive vehicle to date. Being designed to compete in the highly-competitive trucking industry, the Semi is equipped with several features that make it a viable and preferable alternative to diesel-powered vehicles. The Semi is propelled by four Model 3-derived electric motors that provide instant torque, allowing the Semi to go from 0-60 mph in 5 seconds flat without a trailer. The vehicle was also announced with a range of either 300 miles or 500 miles per charge, though Elon Musk later noted that truck’s long-range variant would have closer to 600 miles of range per charge.
The Tesla Semi is set to be supported by a network of Megachargers, which would be capable of replenishing 400 miles of range in as little as 30 minutes of charging. Unlike the Supercharger Network, which has a power output of roughly 120 kW, speculations are high that Tesla’s Megacharger will see around ten times the power levels. As Tesla conducts road tests of the Semi, though, the company has been adopting a temporary charging solution for the vehicle, using a series of Supercharger stalls connected to a hub, which is, in turn, connected to the all-electric truck.
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Tesla China rolls out Model 3 insurance subsidy through February
Eligible customers purchasing a Model 3 by February 28 can receive an insurance subsidy worth RMB 8,000 (about $1,150).
Tesla has rolled out a new insurance subsidy for Model 3 buyers in China, adding another incentive as the automaker steps up promotions in the world’s largest electric vehicle market.
Eligible customers purchasing a Model 3 by February 28 can receive an insurance subsidy worth RMB 8,000 (about $1,150).
A limited-time subsidy
The insurance subsidy, which was announced by Tesla China on Weibo, applies to the Model 3 RWD, Long Range RWD, and Long Range AWD variants. Tesla stated that the offer is available to buyers who complete their purchase on or before February 28, as noted in a CNEV Post report. The starting prices for these variants are RMB 235,500, RMB 259,500, and RMB 285,500, respectively.
The Tesla Model 3 Performance, which starts at RMB 339,500, is excluded from the subsidy. The company has previously used insurance incentives at the beginning of the year to address softer seasonal demand in China’s auto market. The program is typically phased out as sales conditions stabilize over the year.
China’s electric vehicle market
The insurance subsidy followed Tesla’s launch of a 7-year low-interest financing plan in China on January 6, which is aimed at improving vehicle affordability amid changing policy conditions. After Tesla introduced the financing program, several automakers, such as Xiaomi, Li Auto, Xpeng, and Voyah, introduced similar long-term financing options.
China’s electric vehicle market has faced additional headwinds entering 2026. Buyers of new energy vehicles are now subject to a 5% purchase tax, compared with the previous full exemption. At the same time, vehicle trade-in subsidies in several cities are expected to expire in mid-November.
Tesla’s overall sales in China declined in 2025, with deliveries totaling 625,698 vehicles, down 4.78% year-over-year. Model 3 deliveries increased 13.33% to 200,361 units, while Model Y deliveries, which were hampered by the changeover to the new Model Y in the first quarter, fell 11.45% to 425,337 units.
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Tesla hiring Body Fit Technicians for Cybercab’s end of line
As per Tesla’s Careers website, Body Fit Technicians for the Cybercab focus on precision body fitment work, including alignment, gap and flush adjustments.
Tesla has posted job openings for Body Fit Technicians for the Cybercab’s end-of-line assembly, an apparent indication that preparations for the vehicle’s initial production are accelerating at Giga Texas.
Body Fit Technicians for Cybercab line
As per Tesla’s Careers website, Body Fit Technicians for the Cybercab focus on precision body fitment work, including alignment, gap and flush adjustments, and certification of body assemblies to specification standards.
Employees selected for the role will collaborate with engineering and quality teams to diagnose and correct fitment and performance issues and handle detailed inspections, among other tasks.
The listing noted that candidates should be experienced with automotive body fit techniques and comfortable with physically demanding tasks such as lifting, bending, walking, and using both hand and power tools. The position is based in Austin, Texas, where Tesla’s main Cybercab production infrastructure is being built.
Cybercab poised for April production
Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently reiterated that the Cybercab is still expected to start initial production this coming April. So far, numerous Cybercab test units have been spotted across the United States, and recent posts from the official Tesla Robotaxi account have revealed that winter tests in Alaska for the autonomous two-seater are underway.
While April has been confirmed as the date for the Cybercab’s initial production, Elon Musk has also set expectations about the vehicle’s volumes in its initial months. As per the CEO, the Cybercab’s production will follow a typical S-curve, which means that early production rates for the vehicle will be very limited.
“Initial production is always very slow and follows an S-curve. The speed of production ramp is inversely proportionate to how many new parts and steps there are. For Cybercab and Optimus, almost everything is new, so the early production rate will be agonizingly slow, but eventually end up being insanely fast,” Musk wrote in a post on X.
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Swedish unions consider police report over Tesla Megapack Supercharger
The Tesla Megapack Supercharger opened shortly before Christmas in Arlandastad, outside Stockholm.
Swedish labor unions are considering whether to file a police report related to a newly opened Tesla Megapack Supercharger near Stockholm, citing questions about how electricity is supplied to the site. The matter has also been referred to Sweden’s energy regulator.
Tesla Megapack Supercharger
The Tesla Megapack Supercharger opened shortly before Christmas in Arlandastad, outside Stockholm. Unlike traditional charging stations, the site is powered by an on-site Megapack battery rather than a direct grid connection. Typical grid connections for Tesla charging sites in Sweden have seen challenges for nearly two years due to union blockades.
Swedish labor union IF Metall has submitted a report to the Energy Market Inspectorate, asking the authority to assess whether electricity supplied to the battery system meets regulatory requirements, as noted in a report from Dagens Arbete (DA). The Tesla Megapack on the site is charged using electricity supplied by a local company, though the specific provider has not been publicly identified.
Peter Lydell, an ombudsman at IF Metall, issued a comment about the Tesla Megapack Supercharger. “The legislation states that only companies that engage in electricity trading may supply electricity to other parties. You may not supply electricity without a permit, then you are engaging in illegal electricity trading. That is why we have reported this… This is about a company that helps Tesla circumvent the conflict measures that exist. It is clear that it is troublesome and it can also have consequences,” Lydell said.
Police report under consideration
The Swedish Electricians’ Association has also examined the Tesla Megapack Supercharger and documented its power setup. As per materials submitted to the Energy Market Inspectorate, electrical cables were reportedly routed from a property located approximately 500 meters from the charging site.
Tomas Jansson, ombudsman and deputy head of negotiations at the Swedish Electricians’ Association, stated that the union was assessing whether to file a police report related to the Tesla Megapack Supercharger. He also confirmed that the electricians’ union was coordinating with IF Metall about the matter. “We have a close collaboration with IF Metall, and we are currently investigating this. We support IF Metall in their fight for fair conditions at Tesla,” Jansson said.
Tesla China rolls out Model 3 insurance subsidy through February
Tesla hiring Body Fit Technicians for Cybercab’s end of line
