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Tesla Ships to Norway Using a Natural Gas Powered Ferry

Norwegian shipping company Nor Lines has struck a deal to deliver Teslas from Bremerhaven, Germany direct to the west coast of Norway using LNG powered ferries to reduce carbon emissions from diesel transporters.

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Teslas on LNG Ferry In Norway
Teslas on LNG Ferry In Norway

Tesla Model S transported to Norway in a natural gas powered ferry [Source: Anders Sandvik]

Norwegian shipping company Nor Lines has made an agreement with Tesla Motors to ship its cars using a natural gas powered ferry. Shipping the cars by sea will significantly reduce carbon dioxide emissions compared to using traditional diesel powered transporters. The first cargo of 79 Tesla Model S sedans arrived on the west coast of Norway on March 29.

Nor Lines has been negotiating with Tesla for some time. The fact that its ships use liquid natural gas instead of heavy bunker oil seems to have been the factor that won Tesla over.  “I don’t think we would have crossed the finish line as easily if the ships were run on heavy oil,” Nor Lines representative Anders Sandvik told Norway’s PursuitGreen.

This is a first for Nor Lines because the voyage will be followed up with a full complement of cargo headed south on the return voyage. “There was one time when the ship sailed home empty,” Sandvik says. “But we now have a delivery of 79 cars combined with regular line traffic. With all the other goods we have on board, that results in good utilization of vessels and line structure.”

Nor Lines Shipping Boat

Tesla Model S being unloaded from a shipping ferry in Norway [Source: Nor Lines]

The arrangement with Tesla happened almost by accident. When Sandvik bought a Tesla Model S last fall, it made him aware of how much unused capacity there was at the port of Drammen. “I didn’t think it made any sense for cars going to western and northern Norway through a port in the east of the country,” Sandvik says.

He got in touch with Tesla and negotiations began. “In January we took up the thread again and now we are ready for the first pilot project.” he says. Tesla was very interested in making sure its cars would arrive in a timely fashion, but once Sandvik assured them they would, the company accepted Nor Lines’ proposal and pricing structure.

The shipping company is hoping Tesla will ship 40 to 50 cars a week from Bremerhaven, Germany directly to Norway. That would eliminate hundreds of truck shipments every year. Sandvik praises Tesla for being willing to consider using Nor Lines to ship its cars. “I think it is wonderful that Tesla dares to be a little different than the traditional commodity owner. They really take the environment seriously and actively seek to minimize their carbon footprint. I miss such vigor in other industries today,” Sandvik says.

Photo credit: Anders Sandvik, Nor Lines

Special thanks to Leif Hansen of Norway for bringing this story to our attention, and to Anders Sandvik for the collaboration.

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"I write about technology and the coming zero emissions revolution."

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Another Tesla Model 3 variant sold out for January 2026 in China

A look at Tesla China’s order page shows that new Model 3 LR RWD orders now have an estimated delivery date of February 2026.

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Credit: Tesla Asia/X

Another Tesla Model 3 variant in China appears to have sold out for January 2026, with the vehicle now showing an estimated delivery date of February 2026 for new orders. This bodes well for the all-electric sedan, which has maintained notable sales despite more affordable rivals like the Xiaomi SU7 and its crossover sibling, the Model Y. 

Model 3 LR RWD joins February 2026 queue

A look at Tesla China’s order page for the all-electric sedan shows that new Model 3 Long Range Rear Wheel Drive orders now have an estimated delivery date of February 2026. Priced from RMB 259,500 ($36,810), the LR RWD sits as the second-lowest-priced trim in Tesla China’s four-variant Model 3 lineup. The move follows a similar delivery timeframe for the Model 3 Performance, which remains the most expensive option for the vehicle, as noted in a CNEV Post report.

The estimated delivery dates of the two remaining Model 3 variants remain unchanged for now. The base RWD version, starting at RMB 235,500, and the LR AWD variant, priced from RMB 285,500, both continue to list estimated delivery times of 4-6 weeks. Tesla China, for its part, has continued to list in-stock Model 3 vehicles and is actively encouraging buyers to select inventory units for delivery before the end of the year.

Model Y delays and policy shifts

Delivery timelines for the Model Y in China are also stretching into 2026. All customized Model Y variants now show February 2026 as their estimated delivery date, except for the entry-level version, which still lists January 2026. Tesla has been urging customers since November to prioritize purchasing inventory vehicles, a push aimed at maximizing year-end deliveries.

Timing matters for Chinese buyers due to upcoming changes in government incentives. China’s new energy vehicle purchase tax exemption will be scaled back in 2026, which means customers who take delivery next year could face higher tax costs compared to those who are able to receive vehicles before the end of the year.

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As per data from the China Passenger Car Association, Tesla recorded retail sales of 73,145 vehicles in November, down 0.47% year over year. From January through November, Tesla’s retail sales in China totaled 531,855 units, a 7.37% year-over-year drop.

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Wedbush’s Dan Ives sees ‘monster year’ ahead for Tesla amid AI push

In a post on X, the analyst stated that the electric vehicle maker could hit a $3 trillion market cap by the end of 2026 in a bullish scenario.

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Credit: Grok Imagine

Wedbush analyst Dan Ives is doubling down on Tesla’s (NASDAQ:TSLA) long-term upside. In a post on X, the analyst stated that the electric vehicle maker could hit a $3 trillion market cap by the end of 2026 in a bullish scenario, thanks to the company’s efforts to develop and push its artificial intelligence programs. 

An aggressive valuation upside

Ives, Wedbush’s global head of tech research, stated in his post that Tesla is entering a pivotal period as its autonomy and robotics ambitions move closer to commercialization. He expects Tesla’s market cap to reach $2 trillion in 2026, representing roughly 33% upside from current levels, with a bull case up to a $3 trillion market cap by year-end.

Overall, Ives noted that 2026 could become a “monster year” for TSLA. “Heading into 2026, this marks a monster year ahead for Tesla/Musk as the autonomous and robotics chapter begins.  We believe Tesla hits a $2 trillion market cap in 2026 and in a bull case scenario $3 trillion by end of 2026… as the AI chapter takes hold at TSLA,” the analyst wrote

Ives also reiterated his “Outperform” rating on TSLA stock, as well as his $600 per share price target.

Unsupervised Full-Self Driving tests

Fueling optimism is Tesla’s recent autonomous vehicle testing in Austin, Texas. Over the weekend, at least two Tesla Model Ys were spotted driving on public roads without a safety monitor or any other occupants. CEO Elon Musk later confirmed the footage of one of the vehicles on X, writing in a post that “testing is underway with no occupant in the car.” 

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It remains unclear whether the vehicle was supported by chase cars or remote monitoring, and Tesla has not disclosed how many vehicles are involved. That being said, Elon Musk stated a week ago that Tesla would be removing its Safety Monitors from its vehicles “within the next three weeks.” Based on the driverless vehicles’ sightings so far, it appears that Musk’s estimate may be right on the mark, at least for now. 

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Production-ready Tesla Cybercab hits showroom floor in San Jose

Tesla has implemented subtle but significant updates to both the Cybercab’s exterior and interior elements.

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Tesla has showcased what appears to be a near-production-ready Cybercab at its Santana Row showroom in San Jose, California, giving visitors the closest look yet at the autonomous two-seater’s refined design. 

Based on photos of the near-production-ready vehicle, the electric vehicle maker has implemented subtle but significant updates to both the Cybercab’s exterior and interior elements, making the vehicle look more polished and seemingly more comfortable than its prototypes from last year.

Exterior and interior refinements

The updated Cybercab, whose photos were initially shared by Tesla advocate Nic Cruz Patane, now features a new frameless window design, an extended bottom splitter on the front bumper, and a slightly updated rear hatch. It also includes a production-spec front lightbar with integrated headlights, new wheel covers, and a license plate bracket. 

Notably, the vehicle now has two windshield wipers instead of the prototype’s single unit, along with powered door struts, seemingly for smoother opening of its butterfly doors. Inside, the Cybercab now sports what appears to be a redesigned dash and door panels, updated carpet material, and slightly refined seat cushions with new center cupholders. Its legroom seems to have gotten slightly larger as well. 

Cybercab sightings

Sightings of the updated Cybercab have been abundant in recent months. At the end of October, the Tesla AI team teased some of the autonomous two-seater’s updates after it showed a photo of the vehicle being driven through an In-N-Out drive-through by employees in Halloween costumes. The photos of the Cybercab were fun, but they were significant, with longtime Tesla watchers noting that the company has a tradition of driving its prototypes through the fast food chain’s drive-throughs.

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Even at the time, Tesla enthusiasts noticed that the Cybercab had received some design changes, such as segmented DRLs and headlamps, actual turn signals, and a splitter that’s a lot sharper. Larger door openings, which now seem to have been teasing the vehicle’s updated cabin, were also observed at the time. 

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