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Tesla rolls out software update – labeled ‘recall’ – to 55k Model X vehicles

Credit: Tesla

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Tesla rolled out an over-the-air (OTA) software update to almost 55,000 Model X units this week, due to an issue in which a vehicle controller malfunctioned and the car failed to warn drivers of low brake fluid.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced a recall on 54,676 Tesla Model X vehicles on Tuesday built between 2021 and 2023, due to vehicle controllers failing to detect low brake fluid and subsequently not displaying a warning light (via Reuters). Tesla deployed a free OTA update to the vehicles to fix the issue.

In the recall document, the NHTSA says the controller failure “may impact braking performance and may increase the risk of a collision.” As for the cause of the issue, the document states that the “vehicle controller’s set threshold range for the sensor may not be set to the correct range at low brake fluid levels.”

As of October 10, Tesla says it isn’t aware of any accidents, injuries or fatalities as a result of the malfunction. The automaker discovered the problem in September and worked with the Brakes Integration Team to identify and fix the set threshold range.

Tesla stores and service centers will be notified, though Tesla software update 2023.32.7 or later will fix the setting, according to the document.

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You can read the NHTSA’s full recall notice here, complete with a chronology of Tesla’s discovery and response to the malfunction.

Some have criticized the use of the word “recall” in cases where Tesla or other automakers don’t need to perform any physical maintenance to fix a given problem. CEO Elon Musk criticized the use of the word recall in February, and he called the term “outdated and inaccurate” regarding these kinds of cases last fall.

In the past, Tesla has often fixed so-called recalls by deploying an OTA update to the involved vehicles, which the cars then download and install — and often well before the NHTSA can officially send notice letters to them.

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Involved Model X owners will still receive letters regarding the brake fluid controller recall notice, which the agency says will be mailed out by December 12. The related recall number is SB-23-00-005.

Tesla-style Over-the-Air updates will save OEMs $1.5B: research

What are your thoughts? Let me know at zach@teslarati.com, find me on X at @zacharyvisconti, or send your tips to us at tips@teslarati.com.

Zach is a renewable energy reporter who has been covering electric vehicles since 2020. He grew up in Fremont, California, and he currently lives in Colorado. His work has appeared in the Chicago Tribune, KRON4 San Francisco, FOX31 Denver, InsideEVs, CleanTechnica, and many other publications. When he isn't covering Tesla or other EV companies, you can find him writing and performing music, drinking a good cup of coffee, or hanging out with his cats, Banks and Freddie. Reach out at zach@teslarati.com, find him on X at @zacharyvisconti, or send us tips at tips@teslarati.com.

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Tesla loses Model Y program manager in second blow in single day

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Credit: Tesla Manufacturing

Tesla has lost its Model Y Program Manager, he announced on LinkedIn, marking the second major departure from the company today.

Emmanuel Lamacchia has been in the role for 4 years and 7 months, responsible for the rollout of the all-electric crossover in several markets.

The Model Y became the best-selling vehicle in the world for two years under Lamacchia’s watch, making this a huge loss for the company. However, it seems the decision was made under Lamacchia’s own initiative.

He confirmed his decision on LinkedIn:

“After 8 incredible years, I’m moving on from Tesla.

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What a journey it’s been… from leading NPI for Model 3 and Model Y variants to becoming the Vehicle Program Manager for Model Y, the best-selling car in the world!

Leading the All-New Model Y launch was the highlight: converting all 4 factories across 3 continents in just 2 weeks. Something that had never been done before in the auto industry.

To the teams who made this possible: you should be incredibly proud. This achievement belongs to you: the engineers, designers, buyers, and associates in Fremont, Shanghai, Berlin, and Austin who turned an impossible timeline into reality.

Grateful to the leaders who trusted me with programs that stretched my capabilities and to the cross-functional partners who showed me that great solutions come from collaboration, not hierarchy.

Tesla taught me how to move fast without breaking things and how to scale from prototypes to millions of units.

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Excited for what’s next. More to share soon.”

It marks the second major program loss for Tesla today, as it also bid farewell to Cybertruck and Model 3 Program Manager Siddhant Awasthi, who said he left voluntarily in “one of the hardest decisions of his life.”

Tesla Cybertruck and Model 3 program manager steps down

Lamacchia was at Tesla for just a shade under eight years, and previously worked for Rolls-Royce for roughly the same amount of time.

After the loss of both Lamacchia and Awasthi today, Tesla has lost a handful of key executives in 2025, including:

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  • David Imai, Director of Design
  • David Lau, VP of Software Engineering
  • Mark Westfall, Head of Mechanical Engineering
  • Prashant Menon, Regional Director in India
  • Vineet Mehta, Head of Battery Architecture
  • Omead Afshar, VP/Head of Sales and Manufacturing in North America
  • Milan Kovac, Head of Optimus Team
  • Jenna Ferrua, Director of HR
  • Troy Jones, VP of Sales, Service, and Delivery
  • Pete Bannon, VP of Hardware Engineering
  • Piero Landolfi, Director of Service
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Tesla prepares to expand Giga Texas with new Optimus production plant

Drone operator Joe Tegtmeyer recognized Tesla construction crews performing ground leveling and clearing efforts at the plant earlier today.

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Credit: Tesla Optimus | X

Tesla is preparing to expand Gigafactory Texas once again with a brand new facility that will house the eventual manufacturing efforts for Optimus, its humanoid robot.

It is already building some units on a Pilot line at the Fremont Factory in Northern California, but Tesla is planning to build the vast majority of its Optimus project at Gigafactory Texas.

Tesla Optimus gets its latest job, and it’s not in the company’s factories

It will build one million units per year in Fremont, but CEO Elon Musk said the company would build 10 million units every year in Texas at a new building at Giga Texas.

Musk said:

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“I think there could be tens of billions of Optimus robots out there. Um, now obviously it’s very important we pay close attention to safety here. Then a 10 million unit uh per year production line here the I don’t know where we’re going to put the 100 million unit production line. on Mars. Maybe on Mars, I don’t know.”

Evidently, Tesla is ready to begin thinking about the production efforts of Optimus beyond a theoretical standpoint and is starting to prepare for the construction of the manufacturing plant on Giga Texas property.

Drone operator Joe Tegtmeyer recognized Tesla construction crews performing ground leveling and clearing efforts at the plant earlier today:

Production is still slated for 2027, at least at Gigafactory Texas. As previously mentioned, the company is building some units in Fremont for the time being, at least until subsequent versions of the Optimus project advance.

Tesla has done a great job of advancing Optimus forward, but it also has truly grand expectations for the project.

Musk said it could potentially be the biggest product in the history of the planet, as it will revolutionize the way humans perform tasks, probably eliminating monotonous tasks from everyday life.

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Tesla reveals its first Semi customer after launch

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Credit: Tesla

Tesla revealed its first customer for the all-electric Semi truck after it launches next year. Who it truly is should not be a surprise.

The Semi is going to finally start deliveries to new companies outside of Tesla’s pilot program starting in 2026. The company has been building a dedicated production facility in Reno, Nevada, that has finally taken shape, but Tesla was evidently not finished with the Semi’s development.

Tesla shares rare peek at Semi factory’s interior

Last week at the Annual Shareholder Meeting, Tesla said it had implemented some new designs into the Semi, helping with efficiency, updating its design, and making it a more suitable vehicle for hauling loads, as the changes also helped increase payload.

Tesla has obtained a lengthy list of companies that have committed to implementing the Semi in their own fleets, hoping to bring their logistics lineups up to date with electric powertrains and autonomous technologies.

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While it is already operating a pilot program with PepsiCo. and Frito-Lay, Tesla will expand to other businesses, primarily using it internally after its launch.

Head of the Semi program at Tesla, Dan Priestley, said the company would be the first user of the vehicle after its launch next year. It has been using it to a certain extent, but the company has not been able to completely abandon gas haulers.

Instead, it will implement the Semi into its fleet for more sustainable vehicle logistics starting next year:

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Tesla has already received orders for the Semi from a variety of large companies, including Walmart, Sysco, Anheuser-Busch, UPS, DHL, J.B. Hunt, among others.

Many analysts see the Tesla Semi as a major contributor to future growth and increasing value within the company, especially from a Wall Street perspective. Some firms say the Semi is one of several near and medium-term contributors to the company increasing its market cap.

Cantor Fitzgerald is just one of those firms, as last week it explicitly listed the Semi as a catalyst.

Analyst Andres Sheppard said, “Overall, we remain bullish on TSLA over the medium to long term. We continue to see meaningful future upside from Energy Storage & Deployment, FSD, Robotaxis/Cybercab, Semis, and Optimus Bots.”

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