

News
Tesla staff denies reports of year-end Model Y production halt in China: report
Tesla China hit record-high deliveries in November, but the electric vehicle maker has since faced a deluge of reports from mainstream media outlets claiming that demand for the company’s EVs is declining. This was despite Tesla China initiating a number of efforts to make its vehicles more attractive to potential buyers, such as price cuts on the Model 3 and Model Y and other notable perks.
Earlier this month, for example, news media outlets such as Bloomberg News and Reuters claimed that Gigafactory Shanghai would be reducing its vehicle production by a notable degree this December. Bloomberg initially claimed that Giga Shanghai’s production would be trimmed by about 20% this month, while Reuters noted that Model Y production would see a 20% decline. Tesla bears cited the reports as proof that Tesla’s demand was drying up in China.
Tesla China posted a rebuttal to the reports, noting that the claims were “untrue.” Reuters, however, noted in a follow-up piece that Model Y production cuts would be particularly notable at the end of December. This was reportedly due to Model Y production in Gigafactory Shanghai being halted between December 25, 2022, and January 1, 2023.
Citing a Tesla China employee, local Chinese media outlet IT Home noted that the reported Model Y production halt at the end of the month was not accurate. While the publication did not name its source, only noting that its information came from Tesla China’s internal staff, the denial was notable. “It’s not true. Why stop (vehicle) production? It’s a rumor,” the Tesla China employee reportedly noted.
In a way, the electric vehicle maker has some momentum this December. Last month, Tesla China sold a record 100,291 vehicles made at Giga Shanghai, a new record for the electric vehicle factory. Cui Dongshu, secretary-general of the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA), has also noted that Tesla China’s annual sales for 2022 have the potential to reach 750,000 units.
Don’t hesitate to contact us with news tips. Just send a message to simon@teslarati.com to give us a heads up.
News
Tesla Semi earns strong reviews from veteran truckers
The real-world tests offered a closer look at how the Tesla Semi performs outside of the electric vehicle maker’s own demos.

The Tesla Semi has earned favorable reviews from experienced truck drivers after being put through real-world testing. This was highlighted in a Run on Less by NACFE video, which documented Saia freight drivers operating the Class 8 all-electric big rig across standard routes.
The real-world tests offered a closer look at how the Tesla Semi performs outside of the electric vehicle maker’s own demos.
Veteran drivers highlight Semi’s usability
Tom Sterba, a senior driver with Saia, praised the Semi’s technology as a major step forward for the industry. “The navigation systems in these trucks are just unbelievable. That’s what I love about it,” he said.
In a moment that has since been widely shared, Sterba added, “I do not want to go back to a gas truck. I hope I retire in this vehicle.”
Another senior driver, Michael Davis, stated that he volunteered immediately when the Tesla Semi became available. He noted that the truck has not disappointed him, especially since it is a very powerful vehicle.
“I wanted to drive something new, so I wanted to drive that Tesla truck, and it did not disappoint at all. I experienced no problems with the powertrain. It’s total power,” Davis said.
Tesla Semi momentum is building
Tesla’s push with the Semi comes as the company pushes to complete its dedicated factory for the vehicle near Giga Nevada. Tesla expects to start producing the first Semi units from its dedicated Nevada factory this year, with a production ramp up being expected sometime next year.
Tesla expects to produce 50,000 units of the Semi per year from its Nevada facility, which should make it one of the country’s high-volume semi truck factories, The Cool Down reported. The potential benefits for the Tesla Semi are significant. Beyond lowering emissions, the Semi can also reduce the maintenance costs for operators, while also delivering operational savings over time.
Check out Run on Less’ video on the Tesla Semi in the video below.
News
SpaceX aces Starship test flight 10 with successful payload deployment
The mission began at 6:30 p.m. local time in Starbase, Texas, when the launch of Starship initiated. After about eight minutes, stage separation was completed, and the Super Heavy Booster headed back down to Earth for a planned splashdown in the Indian Ocean:

SpaceX aced its tenth Starship test flight on Tuesday night after multiple delays pushed the mission back to this evening. Originally scheduled for Sunday night, SpaceX had two delays push the flight back to Tuesday, which ultimately provided ideal conditions for a launch attempt.
The tenth test flight of Starship had several objectives, including a successful splashdown of the booster in the Gulf of America, the deployment of eight Starlink simulation modules from the PEZ dispenser, and a splashdown of the ship in the Indian Ocean.
SpaceX successfully achieved all three of these objectives, making it one of the most successful test flights in the Starship program. There was no attempt to catch the booster this evening, as the company had been transparent about it ahead of the launch.
The mission began at 6:30 p.m. local time in Starbase, Texas, when the launch of Starship initiated. After about eight minutes, stage separation was completed, and the Super Heavy Booster headed back down to Earth for a planned splashdown in the Indian Ocean:
Super Heavy has splashed down in the Gulf pic.twitter.com/LGozUAmLt8
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) August 26, 2025
Starship was then the main focus of the rest of the broadcast as it completed its ascent burn and coasted through space, providing viewers with spectacular views as the mission headed toward new territory, including the deployment of Starlink simulators. This would be the first time SpaceX would attempt a payload deployment.
The deployment works like a PEZ dispenser, as the simulators were stacked on top of one another and would exit through a small slit one at a time.
This occurred roughly 20 minutes into the mission:
Open the pod bay door, HAL
Starship deploying @Starlink simulator sats pic.twitter.com/3CSOyulzcJ
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) August 26, 2025
An hour and six minutes into the flight, Starship reached its final destination, which was the Indian Ocean. A successful splashdown would bring closure to Starship’s tenth test flight, marking the fifth time a test flight in the program’s history did not end with vehicle loss.
It was also the first of four test flights this year that will end with Starship being recovered.
Splashdown confirmed! Congratulations to the entire SpaceX team on an exciting tenth flight test of Starship! pic.twitter.com/5sbSPBRJBP
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) August 27, 2025
SpaceX is expected to launch Starship again in approximately eight weeks, pending the collection of data and other key metrics from this flight.
News
WATCH: SpaceX attempts Starship’s tenth test flight after two delays
This evening, SpaceX has already stated that conditions appear to be approximately 45 percent favorable for launch. This is ten percent less than last night, when the mission was eventually scrapped around 7 p.m. local time.

SpaceX is set to launch Starship tonight, provided the weather cooperates and everything with the ship goes smoothly.
This is SpaceX’s third attempt to launch Starship for its tenth test flight, with Sunday’s and Monday’s attempts both being scrapped due to a leak and unfavorable weather conditions on the respective days.
This evening, SpaceX has already stated that conditions appear to be approximately 45 percent favorable for launch. This is ten percent less than last night, when the mission was eventually scrapped around 7 p.m. local time.
Propellant load of the upper stage and Super Heavy booster is already underway, and the launch is expected to occur at 6:30 p.m. in Starbase, Texas.
You can watch the tenth test flight of Starship below via SpaceX:
Watch Starship’s tenth flight test → https://t.co/UIwbeGoo2B https://t.co/BFrpQPQFUw
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) August 26, 2025
-
Elon Musk2 days ago
Elon Musk argues lidar and radar make self driving cars more dangerous
-
Elon Musk5 days ago
Elon Musk takes aim at Bill Gates’ Microsoft with new AI venture “Macrohard”
-
News14 hours ago
WATCH: SpaceX attempts Starship’s tenth test flight after two delays
-
News1 week ago
Tesla Model Y L officially launched: price, features, and more
-
News3 days ago
Tesla offers new feature to save battery and reduce phantom drain
-
News2 weeks ago
Tesla flexes its most impressive and longest Full Self-Driving demo yet
-
News2 days ago
WATCH: SpaceX Starship Flight 10 launch
-
News2 weeks ago
Tesla Model Y L spotted in Europe ahead of expected September China launch