News
Ford Mach-E touchscreen demo only highlights Tesla’s stark lead in user experience
Tesla holds a lead in several aspects of the electric car market, from its battery management and efficiency to its over-the-air software updates. Part of this is due to its vertical integration, which allows the company to develop software that is specifically designed to work well with its vehicles’ hardware. This makes Tesla’s electric cars pretty much the vehicle equivalent of the iPhone and iOS in terms of its smoothness and ease of use.
This is not to say that Tesla’s software is perfect, of course. The company’s vehicles still encounter bugs at times, and it is evident that there is still a lot of room for improvement. That being said, if a recent video of the Ford Mustang Mach-E’s in-car software and UI is any indication, it appears that even in its ever-improving state, Tesla’s in-car software is leagues beyond the competition.
During the LA Auto Show, Tesla enthusiasts Rob of the Tesla Daily podcast, Galileo of YouTube’s Hyperchange channel, and TSLA investor Matt Joyce opted to take a look at the recently-unveiled Ford Mustang Mach-E, a premium all-electric crossover that is expected to compete with the upcoming Tesla Model Y. Strangely enough, to gain access to the vehicle’s interior, the Tesla Daily podcast host and the rest of the group had to pay a refundable reservation fee of $500.
Once inside, a Ford representative gave a brief walkthrough of the Mach-E’s features, particularly its portrait-oriented center display. Footage taken of the demo from the Hyperchange host revealed that the software in the Mach-E’s infotainment system is notably slow and laggy when responding to touch inputs. When asked about why this was the case, the Ford representative stated that it was likely due to the display being on for several days.
Granted, the Ford Mustang Mach-E in the LA auto show was a demo unit, and as such, its software is likely still in its developmental phase. Thus, Ford has a good amount of time to refine its all-electric crossover’s software before it gets released to the market.
Unfortunately, veteran automakers have a reputation for releasing in-car software that is about as quick and responsive as the first touchscreen phones that attempted to rival the first iPhones more than a decade ago. The Jaguar I-PACE, for example, is a vehicle that has received over 60 awards from esteemed organizations and media agencies, but the vehicle’s infotainment system cannot hold a candle to the Model 3’s software and user interface.
The same is true for the Audi e-tron. The vehicle is posh and luxurious, but when it comes to software, the car just does not feel like it is equipped with the best that tech has to offer. This is something that was explained by Elon Musk on Twitter, when he addressed why the auto industry is simply not very good at in-car tech. “Connected, autonomous cars require great software. Advanced factories also require great software. The car industry is not very good at software,” Musk wrote.
Considering that the Mustang Mach-E is expected to be released next year, Ford would have to work really hard to make sure that its all-electric crossover gives users an experience that is more Tesla than Jaguar. The all-electric crossover market expects as much.
Watch a first look at the Ford Mustang Mach-E’s infotainment system in the video below.
News
Tesla Diner to transition to full-service restaurant as Chef heads for new venture
“I am leaving the Tesla Diner project to focus on the opening of Mish, my long-desired Jewish deli. Projects like Mish and the Tesla Diner require a sharpness of focus and attention, and my focus and attention is now squarely on Mish.”
Tesla Diner, the all-in-one Supercharging and dining experience located in Los Angeles, will transition to a full-service restaurant in January, staff said, as Chef Eric Greenspan said he would take on a new project.
A report from the Los Angeles Times says Greenspan confirmed through a text that he would leave the Diner and focus on the opening of his new Jewish deli, Mish.
Greenspan confirmed to the paper:
“I am leaving the Tesla Diner project to focus on the opening of Mish, my long-desired Jewish deli. Projects like Mish and the Tesla Diner require a sharpness of focus and attention, and my focus and attention is now squarely on Mish.”
Greenspan took on the job at the Tesla Diner and curated the menu back in March, focusing on locally-sourced ingredients and items that would play on various company products, like Cybertruck-shaped boxes that hold burgers.
Tesla Cybertruck leftovers are the main course at the Supercharger Diner
The Tesla Diner has operated as somewhat of a self-serve establishment, where Tesla owners can order directly from their vehicles through the center touchscreen. It was not exclusive to Tesla owners. Guests could also enter and order at a counter, and pick up their food, before sitting at a booth or table.
However, the report indicates Tesla is planning to push it toward a sit-down restaurant, full of waiters, waitresses, and servers, all of which will come to a table after you are seated, take your order, and serve your food.
It will be more of a full-featured restaurant experience moving forward, which is an interesting move from the company, but it also sounds as if it could be testing for an expansion.
We know that Tesla is already considering expanding locations, as it will be heading to new areas of the country. CEO Elon Musk has said that Tesla will be considering locations in Palo Alto near the company’s Engineering HQ, and in Austin, where its HQ and Gigafactory Texas are located.
Musk said that the Diner has been very successful in its first few months of operation.
News
Tesla adds new surprising fee to Robotaxi program
“Additional cleaning was required for the vehicle after your trip. A fee has been added to your final cost to cover this service. Please contact us if you have any questions.”
Tesla has added a new and somewhat surprising fee to the Robotaxi program. It’s only surprising because it was never there before.
Tesla shocked everyone when it launched its Robotaxi platform and offered riders the opportunity to tip, only to tell them they do not accept tips. It was one of the company’s attempts at being humorous as it rolled out its driverless platform to people in Austin.
As it has expanded to new cities and been opened to more people, as it was yesterday to iOS users, Tesla has had to tweak some of the minor details of the Robotaxi and ride-hailing platforms it operates.
First Look at Tesla’s Robotaxi App: features, design, and more
With more riders, more vehicles, and more operational jurisdictions, the company has to adjust as things become busier.
Now, it is adjusting the platform by adding “Cleaning Fees” to the Robotaxi platform, but it seems it is only charged if the vehicle requires some additional attention after your ride.
The app will communicate with the rider with the following message (via Not a Tesla App):
“Additional cleaning was required for the vehicle after your trip. A fee has been added to your final cost to cover this service. Please contact us if you have any questions.”
The cost of the cleaning will likely depend on how severe the mess is. If you spill a soda, it will likely cost less than if you lose your lunch in the back of the car because you had a few too many drinks.
This is an expected change, and it seems to be one that is needed, especially considering Tesla is operating a small-scale ride-hailing service at the current time. As it expands to more states and cities and eventually is available everywhere, there will be more situations that will arise.
The messes in vehicles are not a new situation, especially in a rideshare setting. It will be interesting to see if Tesla will enable other fees, like ones for riders who request a ride and do not show up for it.
News
Tesla Model Y sold out in China for 2025
Customers who wish to get their cars by the end of the year would likely need to get an inventory unit.
It appears that the Model Y has been sold out for 2025 in China. This seems to be true for the four variants of the vehicle that are currently offered in the country.
Tesla China’s order page update
A look at Tesla China’s order page for the Model Y shows a message informing customers that those who wish to guarantee delivery by the end of the year should purchase an inventory unit. This was despite the Model Y RWD and Model Y L showing an estimated delivery timeline of 4-8 weeks, and the Model Y Long Range RWD and Model Y Long Range AWD showing 4-13 weeks.
As per industry watchers, these updates on the Model Y’s order page suggest that Tesla China’s sales capacity for the remainder of 2025 has been sold out. The fact that estimated delivery timeframes for the Model Y Long Range RWD and AWD extend up to 13 weeks also bodes well for demand for the vehicle, especially given strong rivals like the Xiaomi YU7, which undercuts the Model Y in price.
Tesla China’s upcoming big updates
What is quite interesting is that Tesla China is still competing in the country with one hand partly tied behind its back. So far, Tesla has only been able to secure partial approval for its flagship self-driving software, FSD, in China. This has resulted in V14 not being rolled out to the country yet. Despite this, Tesla China’s “Autopilot automatic assisted driving on urban roads,” as the system is called locally, has earned positive reviews from users.
As per Elon Musk during the 2025 Annual Shareholder Meeting, however, Tesla is expecting to secure full approval for FSD in China in early 2026. “We have partial approval in China, and we hopefully will have full approval in China around February or March or so. That’s what they’ve told us,” Musk said.