News
Tesla gets snubbed as GM, Lucid bag EV wins at AutoTech’s inaugural awards
AutoTech Breakthrough, a market intelligence organization, has released the results of its inaugural AutoTech Breakthrough Awards Program, which recognizes noteworthy companies, innovations, and products in the field of transportation and technology. Several categories are covered by the awards, including “Connected Car,” “Electric Vehicles,” “Engine Tech,” “Automotive CyberSecurity,” “Sensor Technology,” “Traffic Tech,” and “Vehicle Telematics.”
For its inaugural year, the organization received over 1,250 nominations from 12 different countries across the globe. Each nomination was evaluated by a panel of experts within the larger tech industry, with winning products and companies being selected according to a set of metrics. Bryan Vaughn, managing director at AutoTech Breakthrough, described the nature of the awards in a press release.
“The quest to build mobility systems of the future presents a myriad of complexities and the AutoTech Breakthrough Awards program aims to recognize ‘breakthrough’ transportation models and technologies that are addressing these complexities head-on, laying the foundation for more integrated and seamless mobility around the world. Our 2020 AutoTech Breakthrough Award winners circles provides a glimpse into where mobility is headed and we extend our sincere congratulations to all of the exceptional honorees as they pave the road for the future of the Transportation industry,” he said.
AutoTech Breakthrough’s inaugural awards listed some surprising winners in its “Electric Vehicles” category. The company did not list the nominees it received for the segment, but it did announce that General Motors won the “Auto Battery Technology Innovation of the Year” award. Lucid Motors, which recently took the wraps off the production version of its Air sedan, was selected by the awards’ panel of experts as the “Overall Electric Vehicle of the Year.”
GM has made announcements about its Ultium battery program earlier this year, which are large-format, pouch-style cells that can be stacked vertically or horizontally inside a battery pack. The Ultium batteries, which are designed for Level 2 and DC fast charging and are sized up to 200 kWh, will be used in the Hummer EV, GM’s competitor to vehicles like the Rivian R1T and the Tesla Cybertruck. That being said, GM has not released the specifics of its Ultium batteries in the same way as Tesla with its upcoming tabless 4680 cells, which were extensively discussed during Battery Day.
Quite interestingly, AutoTech Breakthrough’s awards did not feature any products or vehicles from Tesla, despite the market intelligence firm featuring the Model S heavily on its official website. Tesla was also mentioned by the organization in its discussion about the transportation market’s ongoing shift towards the adoption of electric vehicles.
Read the press release for the inaugural AutoTech Breakthrough Awards Program below.
Elon Musk
Elon Musk estimates Tesla Semi could reach Europe next year
“We’ve got the Tesla Semi coming out, the heavy truck, and that’ll be going to Europe hopefully next year,” Musk said.
Tesla is preparing to expand its all-electric Semi truck program to Europe, with CEO Elon Musk indicating that the Class 8 vehicle could arrive in the region 2027.
Musk shared his update during an interview about Giga Berlin with plant manager André Thierig, which was posted on X by the official Tesla Manufacturing account.
“We’ve got the Tesla Semi coming out, the heavy truck, and that’ll be going to Europe hopefully next year,” he said.
Tesla has already begun limited production and customer deployments of the Tesla Semi in the United States, with the company working to scale output through the Semi factory near Giga Nevada. Considering Musk’s comments, it appears that a European rollout would be the next phase of the vehicle’s expansion beyond North America.
Musk’s use of the word “hopefully” leaves room for flexibility, but the remark signals that Europe is next in Tesla’s commercial expansion plans.
Musk has consistently argued that electrification should extend beyond passenger vehicles. During the same interview, he reiterated his view that “all ground transport should be electric,” adding that ships, and eventually aircraft, would follow.
The Semi plays a central role in that strategy. Heavy-duty freight remains one of the most emissions-intensive segments of road transport, and European regulators have increasingly pushed for lower-emission commercial fleets.
Tesla recently refreshed the Semi lineup on its official website, listing two variants: Standard and Long Range. The Standard trim offers up to 325 miles of range with an energy consumption rating of 1.7 kWh per mile, while the Long Range version provides up to 500 miles, which should be more than ample for European routes.
Elon Musk
Tesla Cybercab coming next to Giga Berlin, Optimus possibly after
“From a next major product standpoint, I think most likely is the Tesla Cybercab,” Musk said.
Tesla could add the Cybercab and Optimus humanoid robot to the production lineup at Giga Berlin, as per recent comments from CEO Elon Musk.
During a recent interview with Giga Berlin plant manager André Thierig, Musk identified the Cybercab as the most likely next major product for the German factory, with Optimus potentially following after.
“From a next major product standpoint, I think most likely is the Tesla Cybercab,” Musk said. He added that there are also “possibilities of Tesla Optimus” being produced in the facility.
Tesla has already begun production of the Cybercab in Giga Texas, with volume production expected to ramp this year. Based on Musk’s comments, it appears that if conditions align in Europe, Giga Berlin could eventually join that effort.
The CEO’s comments about Optimus coming to Gigafactory Berlin are quite unsurprising too considering that Musk has mentioned in the past that the humanoid robot will likely be Tesla’s highest volume product in the long run.
Giga Berlin will likely be able to produce mass volumes of Optimus, as the Model S and Model X lines being converted to an Optimus line in the Fremont Factory are already expected to produce 1 million units of the humanoid robot annually.
Apart from his comments about the Cybercab and Optimus, Elon Musk also confirmed that Giga Berlin has started ramping battery cell production and will continue expanding Model Y output, particularly as supervised Full Self-Driving (FSD) gains regulatory approvals in Europe.
Taken together, the remarks suggest Berlin’s role could evolve beyond vehicle assembly into a broader multi-product manufacturing hub, not just a regional Model Y plant.
Energy
Tesla Powerwall distribution expands in Australia
Inventory is expected to arrive in late February and official sales are expected to start mid-March 2026.
Supply Partners Group has secured a distribution agreement for the Tesla Powerwall in Australia, with inventory expected to arrive in late February and official sales beginning in mid-March 2026.
Under the new agreement, Supply Partners will distribute Tesla Powerwall units and related accessories across its national footprint, as noted in an ecogeneration report. The company said the addition strengthens its position as a distributor focused on premium, established brands.
“We are proud to officially welcome Tesla Powerwall into the Supply Partners portfolio,” Lliam Ricketts, Co-Founder and Director of Innovation at Supply Partners Group, stated.
“Tesla sets a high bar, and we’ve worked hard to earn the opportunity to represent a brand that customers actively ask for. This partnership reflects the strength of our logistics, technical services and customer experience, and it’s a win for installers who want premium options they can trust.”
Supply Partners noted that initial Tesla Powerwall stock will be warehoused locally before full commercial rollout in March. The distributor stated that the timing aligns with renewed growth momentum for the Powerwall, supported by competitive installer pricing, consumer rebates, and continued product and software updates.
“Powerwall is already a category-defining product, and what’s ahead makes it even more compelling,” Ricketts stated. “As pricing sharpens and capability expands, we see a clear runway for installers to confidently spec Powerwall for premium residential installs, backed by Supply Partners’ national distribution footprint and service model.”
Supply Partners noted that a joint go-to-market launch is planned, including Tesla-led training for its sales and technical teams to support installers during the home battery system’s domestic rollout.
Elon Musk estimates Tesla Semi could reach Europe next year
Tesla Cybercab coming next to Giga Berlin, Optimus possibly after
