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Nikola unveils five new zero-emissions vehicles at Nikola World 2019 event
Nikola Motors unveiled its Nikola Two and Nikola Tre hydrogen-electric semi trucks along with three other new emissions-free transportation products at its Nikola World 2019 event. The company’s core mission is to rid the transportation industry of its reliance on diesel fuel, and their primary path to that future is via advanced hydrogen fuel cell technology.
Trevor Milton, CEO and founder of Nikola, kicked off the event by arriving onstage with the iconic Budweiser Clydesdales. Annheuser-Busch has ordered 800 trucks from Nikola as part of the iconic beer brewing company’s sustainability mission. “I cannot wait to see your truck pull a load of Budweiser,” Ingrid De Ryck, VP of Procurement and Sustainability for Annheuser exclaimed later in the evening’s presentation.
I cannot wait to see @nikolamotor trucks hauling @budweiserusa beers – Budweiser at #NikolaWorld2019 – they've ordered hundreds of trucks from Nikola already. #EmissionsGameOver #cleanenergy pic.twitter.com/VC3gsHIjV6
— DJ (@PrincessDeixa) April 17, 2019
Nikola is arguably best known for its upcoming zero emission semi trucks; however, the Arizona-based startup has been simultaneously developing products for both the military and outdoor adventure crowd.
-->The first new product unveiled at Nikola World 2019 was the Nikola Reckless, a military all-terrain vehicle designed for superior performance and stealth thanks to its minuscule sound and heat signature. High-end specs are an expected given for this type of tailored vehicle, of which the Reckless undoubtedly has, but an additional perk described in the company’s presentation was the ATV’s 13” Infotainment screen which can be completely submerged without being damaged. The Reckless is also modular to enable a broad-range of military applications. “We believe all military vehicles will transform to battery electric and hydrogen fuel cells in the future,” Andrew Christian, NP of Business Development and Defense at Nikola’s Powersports division stated during the presentation.
The second product unveiled at Nikola’s event extended the company’s coined hashtag ‘#emissionsgameover’ beyond land transporatation. The Nikola Water Adventure Vehicle (WAV) is an all-electric jet-ski styled personal watercraft featuring an innovative platform. In comparison to electric vehicle “skateboard” architectures, the Nikola WAV will have a “wakeboard” architecture from which other watercraft can be developed.
The final product presented before the main semi truck attractions took stage was a redesigned version of the Nikola NZT Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV). NZT stands for “Net Zero Toll”, meaning the vehicle leaves zero footprint wherever it’s used. The flagship Powersports vehicle is meant to change its entire relative industry towards an emissions-free, near noise-pollution-free-direction.
Finally, the Nikola Two and Europe-bound Nikola Tre Class 8 semi trucks were unveiled, all rolling out onto the stage and floor, respectively. Two Nikola Two big rigs were debuted – one red, one in “Storm Trooper” white. “This is 800V of real…I’ve been preparing for this moment my whole life,” Milton stated prior to the Nikola Two roll out. The trucks at the event were hydrogen electric versions. Once in production, however, battery-only electric versions of the two semis will also be available for purchase.
Nikola Motor CEO Trevor Milton has a candid moment before unveiling the Nikola Two at the Nikola World 2019 event. | Photo: Dacia Ferris/Teslarati
The Nikola Two hydrogen electric semi truck unveiled at the Nikola World 2019 event. | Photo: Dacia Ferris/Teslarati
The Storm Trooper Nikola Two hydrogen electric semi truck rolls out at #NikolaWorld2019 ! @nikolamotor pic.twitter.com/VTj9uGvqMn
— DJ (@PrincessDeixa) April 17, 2019
-->The second day of Nikola World 2019 will have breakout sessions providing more details on the products revealed along with a demo track where the Nikola Two will be on display. Test ride-alongs will also be given for the NZT on a closed course track.
Follow @Teslarati for more behind-the-scenes coverage of day two of Nikola World 2019.
Watch the full live streamed Nikola World 2019 event below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Dc8J3iSLw4
-->
News
Tesla FSD V14.2.1 is earning rave reviews from users in diverse conditions
Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (Supervised) software continues its rapid evolution, with the latest V14.2.1 update drawing widespread praise.
Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (Supervised) software continues its rapid evolution, with the latest V14.2.1 update drawing widespread praise for its smoother performance and smarter decision-making.
Videos and firsthand accounts from Tesla owners highlight V14.2.1 as an update that improves navigation responsiveness, sign recognition, and overall fluidity, among other things. Some drivers have even described it as “more alive than ever,” hinting at the system eventually feeling “sentient,” as Elon Musk has predicted.
FSD V14.2.1 first impressions
Early adopters are buzzing about how V14.2.1 feels less intrusive while staying vigilant. In a post shared on X, Tesla owner @LactoseLunatic described the update as a “huge leap forward,” adding that the system remains “incredibly assertive but still safe.”
Another Tesla driver, Devin Olsenn, who logged ~600 km on V14.2.1, reported no safety disengagements, with the car feeling “more alive than ever.” The Tesla owner noted that his wife now defaults to using FSD V14, as the system is already very smooth and refined.
Adverse weather and regulatory zones are testing grounds where V14.2.1 shines, at least according to testers in snow areas. Tesla watcher Sawyer Merritt shared a video of his first snowy drive on unplowed rural roads in New Hampshire, where FSD did great and erred on the side of caution. As per Merritt, FSD V14.2.1 was “extra cautious” but it performed well overall.
-->Sign recognition and freeway prowess
Sign recognition also seemed to show improvements with FSD V14.2.1. Longtime FSD tester Chuck Cook highlighted a clip from his upcoming first-impressions video, showcasing improved school zone behavior. “I think it read the signs better,” he observed, though in standard mode, it didn’t fully drop to 15 mph within the short timeframe. This nuance points to V14.2.1’s growing awareness of temporal rules, a step toward fewer false positives in dynamic environments.
FSD V14.2.1 also seems to excel in high-stress highway scenarios. Fellow FSD tester @BLKMDL3 posted a video of FSD V14.2.1 managing a multi-lane freeway closure due to a police chase-related accident. “Perfectly handles all lanes of the freeway merging into one,” the Tesla owner noted in his post on X.
FSD V14.2.1 was released on Thanksgiving, much to the pleasant surprise of Tesla owners. The update’s release notes are almost identical to the system’s previous iteration, save for one line item read, “Camera visibility can lead to increased attention monitoring sensitivity.”
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Tesla FSD Supervised ride-alongs in Europe begin in Italy, France, and Germany
The program allows the public to hop in as a non-driving observer to witness FSD navigate urban streets firsthand.
Tesla has kicked off passenger ride-alongs for Full Self-Driving (Supervised) in Italy, France and Germany. The program allows the public to hop in as a non-driving observer to witness FSD navigate urban streets firsthand.
The program, detailed on Tesla’s event pages, arrives ahead of a potential early 2026 Dutch regulatory approval that could unlock a potential EU-wide rollout for FSD.
Hands-Off Demos
Tesla’s ride-along invites participants to “ride along in the passenger seat to experience how it handles real-world traffic & the most stressful parts of daily driving, making the roads safer for all,” as per the company’s announcement on X through its official Tesla Europe & Middle East account.
Sign-ups via localized pages offer free slots through December, with Tesla teams piloting vehicles through city streets, roundabouts and highways.
“Be one of the first to experience Full Self-Driving (Supervised) from the passenger seat. Our team will take you along as a passenger and show you how Full Self-Driving (Supervised) works under real-world road conditions,” Tesla wrote. “Discover how it reacts to live traffic and masters the most stressful parts of driving to make the roads safer for you and others. Come join us to learn how we are moving closer to a fully autonomous future.”
-->Building trust towards an FSD Unsupervised rollout
Tesla’s FSD (Supervised) ride-alongs could be an effective tool to build trust and get regular car buyers and commuters used to the idea of vehicles driving themselves. By seating riders shotgun, Tesla could provide participants with a front row seat to the bleeding edge of consumer-grade driverless systems.
FSD (Supervised) has already been rolled out to several countries, such as the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and partially in China. So far, FSD (Supervised) has been received positively by drivers, as it really makes driving tasks and long trips significantly easier and more pleasant.
FSD is a key safety feature as well, which became all too evident when a Tesla driving on FSD was hit by what seemed to be a meteorite in Australia. The vehicle moved safely despite the impact, though the same would likely not be true had the car been driven manually.
News
Swedish union rep pissed that Tesla is working around a postal blockade they started
Tesla Sweden is now using dozens of private residences as a way to obtain license plates for its vehicles.
Two years into their postal blockade, Swedish unions are outraged that Tesla is still able to provide its customers’ vehicles with valid plates through various clever workarounds.
Seko chairman Gabriella Lavecchia called it “embarrassing” that the world’s largest EV maker, owned by CEO Elon Musk, refuses to simply roll over and accept the unions’ demands.
Unions shocked Tesla won’t just roll over and surrender
The postal unions’ blockade began in November 2023 when Seko and IF Metall-linked unions stopped all mail to Tesla sites to force a collective agreement. License plates for Tesla vehicles instantly became the perfect pressure point, as noted in a Dagens Arbete report.
Tesla responded by implementing initiatives to work around the blockades. A recent investigation from Arbetet revealed that Tesla Sweden is now using dozens of private residences, including one employee’s parents’ house in Trångsund and a customer-relations staffer’s home in Vårby, as a way to obtain license plates for its vehicles.
Seko chairman Gabriella Lavecchia is not pleased that Tesla Sweden is working around the unions’ efforts yet again. “It is embarrassing that one of the world’s largest car companies, owned by one of the world’s richest people, has sunk this low,” she told the outlet. “Unfortunately, it is completely frivolous that such a large company conducts business in this way.”
-->Two years on and plates are still being received
The Swedish Transport Agency has confirmed Tesla is still using several different workarounds to overcome the unions’ blockades.
As noted by DA, Tesla Sweden previously used different addresses to receive its license plates. At one point, the electric vehicle maker used addresses for car care shops. Tesla Sweden reportedly used this strategy in Östermalm in Stockholm, as well as in Norrköping and Gothenburg.
Another strategy that Tesla Sweden reportedly implemented involved replacement plates being ordered by private individuals when vehicles change hands from Tesla to car buyers. There have also been cases where the police have reportedly issued temporary plates to Tesla vehicles.
Tesla FSD V14.2.1 is earning rave reviews from users in diverse conditions
Tesla FSD Supervised ride-alongs in Europe begin in Italy, France, and Germany
