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Tesla Semi production to ‘earnestly’ begin by 2020
When Elon Musk unveiled the Tesla Semi last November, the bold CEO announced that the all-electric truck would likely start production sometime in 2019. While details for Tesla’s ramp for the Semi are still largely unknown, the company has nonetheless provided an update on the upcoming vehicle’s rollout, stating that the company would begin “earnestly” producing the Semi by 2020.
The update on the Semi’s production was shared by Eric Markowitz & Dan Crowley of Worm Capital, one of Tesla’s investors which currently owns about $200 million worth of TSLA stock. The Worm Capital financial analysts were part of a group who were invited to tour Tesla’s Gigafactory 1 in Nevada last month. Markowitz and Crowley wrote about their insights from the Giga 1 tour in a post on the financial firm’s official website. Among these were information related by Tesla head of investor relations Martin Viecha, who dropped some updates about the company’s products and its plans for the near future.
For one, the Tesla head of investor relations reportedly noted that the company is aiming to start exporting the Model 3 to other countries sometime next year. What’s more, Veicha also noted that Tesla is planning on “earnestly” producing the Semi by 2020.
The update on the Semi’s production appears to suggest that Tesla is, for the most part, keeping its original target for the long-hauler’s initial rollout. Musk’s 2019 estimate for the start of the Semi’s production is undoubtedly aggressive and optimistic, but if Tesla intends to hit its stride with the Semi’s production by 2020, the company would probably need to start manufacturing the first electric trucks either in 2019 (within Musk’s original target), or early 2020 (if the vehicle’s rollout ends up happening in Tesla’s ever-prevalent ‘Elon Time’).
Tesla’s goal for the Semi is actually quite feasible, considering that the vehicle shares several components with the Model 3. This was confirmed during the Q2 2018 earnings call, when the company noted that the two vehicles share parts such as powertrains, door handles, and touchscreens, to name a few. On account of these similarities, as well as the manufacturing lessons Tesla learned during the Model 3 ramp, there is a pretty good chance that the Semi’s production would not see as many difficulties as the electric sedan’s.
In true Tesla fashion, the Semi boasts strong performance figures, thanks to its four Model 3-derived electric motors that enable the long-hauler to sprint from 0-60 mph in just 5 seconds without cargo. The Semi is also classified as a Class 8 vehicle, allowing it to transport the maximum amount of load usually permitted on US highways. Furthermore, the electric truck will be capable of operating in “Convoy Mode,” a system that will enable several Semis to semi-autonomously draft in close proximity with each other to reduce energy usage from wind resistance.
Tesla is currently continuing real-world tests of the Semi, with the long-hauler’s prototype being sighted traveling across the United States. Over the past few weeks, the Semi has visited some of the company’s reservation holders such as J.B. Hunt, UPS, and Ruan Transport Management Systems. Through interactions with the engineers accompanying the Semi across its interstate travels, some members of the Tesla community have been able to acquire some compelling tidbits of information about the prototype long-hauler, such as its 26-camera system, its carbon fiber body, and its upcoming sleeper features.
Elon Musk
Musk bankers looking to trim xAI debt after SpaceX merger: report
xAI has built up $18 billion in debt over the past few years, with some of this being attributed to the purchase of social media platform Twitter (now X) and the creation of the AI development company. A new financing deal would help trim some of the financial burden that is currently present ahead of the plan to take SpaceX public sometime this year.
Elon Musk’s bankers are looking to trim the debt that xAI has taken on over the past few years, following the company’s merger with SpaceX, a new report from Bloomberg says.
xAI has built up $18 billion in debt over the past few years, with some of this being attributed to the purchase of social media platform Twitter (now X) and the creation of the AI development company. Bankers are trying to create some kind of financing plan that would trim “some of the heavy interest costs” that come with the debt.
The financing deal would help trim some of the financial burden that is currently present ahead of the plan to take SpaceX public sometime this year. Musk has essentially confirmed that SpaceX would be heading toward an IPO last month.
The report indicates that Morgan Stanley is expected to take the leading role in any financing plan, citing people familiar with the matter. Morgan Stanley, along with Goldman Sachs, Bank of America, and JPMorgan Chase & Co., are all expected to be in the lineup of banks leading SpaceX’s potential IPO.
Since Musk acquired X, he has also had what Bloomberg says is a “mixed track record with debt markets.” Since purchasing X a few years ago with a $12.5 billion financing package, X pays “tens of millions in interest payments every month.”
That debt is held by Bank of America, Barclays, Mitsubishi, UFJ Financial, BNP Paribas SA, Mizuho, and Société Générale SA.
X merged with xAI last March, which brought the valuation to $45 billion, including the debt.
SpaceX announced the merger with xAI earlier this month, a major move in Musk’s plan to alleviate Earth of necessary data centers and replace them with orbital options that will be lower cost:
“In the long term, space-based AI is obviously the only way to scale. To harness even a millionth of our Sun’s energy would require over a million times more energy than our civilization currently uses! The only logical solution, therefore, is to transport these resource-intensive efforts to a location with vast power and space. I mean, space is called “space” for a reason.”
The merger has many advantages, but one of the most crucial is that it positions the now-merged companies to fund broader goals, fueled by revenue from the Starlink expansion, potential IPO, and AI-driven applications that could accelerate the development of lunar bases.
News
Tesla pushes Full Self-Driving outright purchasing option back in one market
Tesla announced last month that it would eliminate the ability to purchase the Full Self-Driving software outright, instead opting for a subscription-only program, which will require users to pay monthly.
Tesla has pushed the opportunity to purchase the Full Self-Driving suite outright in one market: Australia.
The date remains February 14 in North America, but Tesla has pushed the date back to March 31, 2026, in Australia.
NEWS: Tesla is ending the option to buy FSD as a one-time outright purchase in Australia on March 31, 2026.
It still ends on Feb 14th in North America. https://t.co/qZBOztExVT pic.twitter.com/wmKRZPTf3r
— Sawyer Merritt (@SawyerMerritt) February 13, 2026
Tesla announced last month that it would eliminate the ability to purchase the Full Self-Driving software outright, instead opting for a subscription-only program, which will require users to pay monthly.
If you have already purchased the suite outright, you will not be required to subscribe once again, but once the outright purchase option is gone, drivers will be required to pay the monthly fee.
The reason for the adjustment is likely due to the short period of time the Full Self-Driving suite has been available in the country. In North America, it has been available for years.
Tesla hits major milestone with Full Self-Driving subscriptions
However, Tesla just launched it just last year in Australia.
Full Self-Driving is currently available in seven countries: the United States, Canada, China, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, and South Korea.
The company has worked extensively for the past few years to launch the suite in Europe. It has not made it quite yet, but Tesla hopes to get it launched by the end of this year.
In North America, Tesla is only giving customers one more day to buy the suite outright before they will be committed to the subscription-based option for good.
The price is expected to go up as the capabilities improve, but there are no indications as to when Tesla will be doing that, nor what type of offering it plans to roll out for owners.
Elon Musk
Starlink terminals smuggled into Iran amid protest crackdown: report
Roughly 6,000 units were delivered following January’s unrest.
The United States quietly moved thousands of Starlink terminals into Iran after authorities imposed internet shutdowns as part of its crackdown on protests, as per information shared by U.S. officials to The Wall Street Journal.
Roughly 6,000 units were delivered following January’s unrest, marking the first known instance of Washington directly supplying the satellite systems inside the country.
Iran’s government significantly restricted online access as demonstrations spread across the country earlier this year. In response, the U.S. purchased nearly 7,000 Starlink terminals in recent months, with most acquisitions occurring in January. Officials stated that funding was reallocated from other internet access initiatives to support the satellite deployment.
President Donald Trump was aware of the effort, though it remains unclear whether he personally authorized it. The White House has not issued a comment about the matter publicly.
Possession of a Starlink terminal is illegal under Iranian law and can result in significant prison time. Despite this, the WSJ estimated that tens of thousands of residents still rely on the satellite service to bypass state controls. Authorities have reportedly conducted inspections of private homes and rooftops to locate unauthorized equipment.
Earlier this year, Trump and Elon Musk discussed maintaining Starlink access for Iranians during the unrest. Tehran has repeatedly accused Washington of encouraging dissent, though U.S. officials have mostly denied the allegations.
The decision to prioritize Starlink sparked internal debate within U.S. agencies. Some officials argued that shifting resources away from Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) could weaken broader internet access efforts. VPNs had previously played a major role in keeping Iranians connected during earlier protest waves, though VPNs are not effective when the actual internet gets cut.
According to State Department figures, about 30 million Iranians used U.S.-funded VPN services during demonstrations in 2022. During a near-total blackout in June 2025, roughly one-fifth of users were still able to access limited connectivity through VPN tools.
Critics have argued that satellite access without VPN protection may expose users to geolocation risks. After funds were redirected to acquire Starlink equipment, support reportedly lapsed for two of five VPN providers operating in Iran.
A State Department official has stated that the U.S. continues to back multiple technologies, including VPNs alongside Starlink, to sustain people’s internet access amidst the government’s shutdowns.
Musk bankers looking to trim xAI debt after SpaceX merger: report
SpaceX launches Crew-12 on Falcon 9, lands first booster at new LZ-40 pad
