

News
Rehired Tesla Supercharger team member assures Tesla will remain EV charging industry leader
A member of the Tesla Supercharger team who recently returned to the electric vehicle maker has noted that the company will continue to be a leader in the EV charging industry.
In a LinkedIn post, TJ Connolly, Tesla Charging Program Manager & Business Development Lead for North America, shared his recent experience with the electric vehicle maker. As per Connolly, the termination of most of the Supercharger team at the end of April was a lot to take in, but the outpouring of support that he received was notable.
And two weeks ago, similar to other members of the Supercharger team that have been let go, Connolly stated that he also received an invitation to rejoin Tesla. As he noted on his LinkedIn post, he accepted the electric vehicle maker’s invitation.
Interestingly enough, Connolly assured in his post that “the EV charging industry is ok.” He also noted that “Tesla will continue to lead and inspire, while providing the best customer experience, with our best in class products and support.”
NEWS: TJ Connolly, Tesla Charging Program Manager & Business Development Lead, North America, was recently asked to return to Tesla’s charging team.
“I assure you that the EV Charging Industry is OK; Tesla will continue to lead and inspire, while providing the best customer… pic.twitter.com/bhC16s00vN— Sawyer Merritt (@SawyerMerritt) June 3, 2024
Following is the text of Connolly’s post on LinkedIn.
Two weeks ago, I was asked to return to the Tesla Charging Team.
In reflecting on my first days in the Fremont Factory in April of 2018, during orientation for the Leadership Development Program, our guest speakers asked us, “Why Tesla?”.
I volunteered the first answer – candidly telling a room of strangers that I believed Tesla would allow me to make the world a better place for my (then) unborn children, their children and all those to come. I wanted to be part of a mission that would inspire others, upend tradition, and allow me to wake up excited to work everyday.
On April 30th, 2024 – the abrupt end to my time at Tesla was a lot to take in – there was still so much more work to be done. The outpouring of support from my partners in commercial & multifamily real estate, along with my EV Charging Installation and distribution partners was amazing. The words of wisdom from my family, friends & mentors, made me realize how lucky I am.
Thank you ALL. You reinforced what I had already known, and I am pleased to share that I have accepted the invitation to return.
I return for my valued partners.
I return to finish what I started with my amazing teammates.
I return to continue to make the world a better place for my (now 3) children.
Please forgive any delays in my responses, but I assure you that the EV Charging Industry is OK.
Tesla will continue to lead and inspire, while providing the best customer experience, with our best in class products and support.
I am very excited to continue to help shape the future of the Wall Connector and Supercharger programs with Max de Zegher, George Bahadue and many others, while building more long-lasting mutually beneficial relationships with industry leaders in both real estate and Charging.
Let’s Charge on.
Don’t hesitate to contact us with news tips. Just send a message to simon@teslarati.com to give us a heads up.
Elon Musk
Elon Musk confirms Tesla AI6 chip is Project Dojo’s successor
Tesla’s AI5 and AI6 chips are expected to be rolled out to the company’s consumer products.

Earlier this week, reports emerged stating that Tesla has stepped back from its Project Dojo initiative. While the reports were initially framed as a negative development for the electric vehicle maker’s autonomous driving efforts, CEO Elon Musk later noted on X that Tesla was indeed halting its Dojo initiative.
Elon Musk’s Confirmation
As per Musk, Tesla was shuttering Project Dojo because it does not make sense for the company to divide its resources and scale two different AI chip designs. Dojo, after all, is designed to train the company’s autonomous driving program, and thus, it would not be rolled out to Tesla’s consumer products.
In a series of posts on X, Musk stated that it would make sense to just use Tesla’s AI5/AI6 to train its FSD and Autopilot systems. “In a supercomputer cluster, it would make sense to put many AI5/AI6 chips on a board, whether for inference or training, simply to reduce network cabling complexity & cost by a few orders of magnitude,” Musk said.
Tesla’s AI5 and AI6 chips are expected to be rolled out to the company’s consumer products, from Optimus to the Cybercab to the next-generation Roadster.
AI6 is Dojo’s Successor
What was particularly interesting about Musk’s comment was his mention of using AI5/AI6 chips for training. As per Musk, this strategy could be seen as “Dojo 3” in a way, since the performance of Tesla’s AI5 and AI6 chips is already notable. Musk’s comment about using AI6 chips for training caught the eye of many, including Apple and Rivian alumnus Phil Beisel, who noted that “AI6 is now Dojo.”
“Dojo is Tesla’s AI training supercomputer, built around a custom chip known as the D1. The D1 and AI5/AI6 share many core design elements, particularly the math operations used in neural networks (e.g., matrix multiplication) and highly parallel processing.
“Dojo had a unique feature: chips arranged in a 5×5 grid using a system-on-wafer design, with etched interconnects enabling high-speed data transfer. In a sense, Dojo will live on as the generalized AI6. Going forward, all efforts will focus on AI6,” the tech veteran wrote in a post on X.
Elon Musk confirmed the Apple alumnus’ musings, with the CEO responding with a “bullseye” emoji. Musk is evidently excited for Tesla’s AI6 chip, which is expected to produced by Samsung’s upcoming Texas fabrication facility. In a post on X, Musk stated that he would personally be walking Samsung’s line to accelerate the output of Tesla’s AI6 computers.
Cybertruck
Tesla’s new upgrade makes the Cybertruck extra-terrestrial
The upgrade was announced by the electric vehicle maker on social media platform X.

It took a while, but the Tesla Cybertruck’s rock sliders and battery armor upgrades have finally arrived. The upgrade was announced by the electric vehicle maker on social media platform X, to much appreciation from Cybertruck owners.
Tesla Releases Cybertruck Armor Package
As could be seen in Tesla’s official Shop, the Cybertruck Terrestrial Armor Package is available only for Foundation Series units for now, though non-Foundation Series vehicles should have access to the upgrade around September 2025. Price-wise, the armor package is quite reasonable at $3,500.
For that price, Cybertruck owners would be able to acquire enhanced rock sliders and an underbody battery shield that should allow the all-electric pickup truck to go through harsh terrain without any issues. Each purchase of the Terrestrial Armor Package includes 1 Underbody shield, 1 Left side structural rocker, and 1 Right side structural rocker.
Most importantly, the Armor Package’s price includes shipment to the customer’s preferred Tesla Service Center and installation.
Extra-Terrestrial
Tesla describes its Cybertruck Armor Package as follows: “Get extra-terrestrial. The Cybertruck Terrestrial Armor Package includes enhanced rock sliders and an underbody battery shield to provide greater protection from rocks and debris when off-roading on tough terrain. The rock sliders are constructed from coated steel and the underbody battery shield is constructed from aluminum for greater protection against scraping.”
Initial impressions from a Cybertruck owner who was fortunate enough to test the Armor Package in real-world off-road conditions have been positive. The item’s pricing also seems to be quite appreciated by Cybertruck owners in forums such as the Cybertruck Owners Club, with some members stating that they would be acquiring the package for their own all-electric pickup trucks.
News
Tesla Model Y L reportedly entered mass production in Giga Shanghai
The vehicle is expected to be a larger version of the best-selling Model Y crossover.

Reports from industry watchers in China have suggested that the Tesla Model Y L has started mass production at Gigafactory Shanghai. The vehicle is expected to be a larger version of the best-selling Model Y crossover, offering three rows and six seats thanks to a longer wheelbase.
Tesla Model Y L Production Rumors
Reports about the new Model Y variant’s alleged milestone were initially shared on Weibo, with some industry watchers stating that the vehicle has already started mass production. Tesla China is reportedly surveying which of its domestic stores would have the first display units of the six-seat Model Y.
The Model Y L’s steady march towards production was evident this past week, with recent reports indicating that the vehicle’s key specs have already been listed in the China Ministry of Industry and Information Technology’s (MIIT) latest batch of new energy vehicle models that are eligible for vehicle purchase tax exemptions.
As per the MIIT’s list, the Model Y L will be a dual motor vehicle that is equipped with an 82.0-kWh lithium-ion battery from LG Energy Solution. The vehicle will feature six seats with two captain seats on the second row, as well as a CLTC range of 751 km.
Tesla Model Y L Potential
The potential of the Model Y L is vast, considering that it is produced in the existing Model Y lines of Tesla’s factories. This should slash new vehicle tooling costs and potential ramp-up issues. Three-row SUVs also command a pretty notable market that has mostly only been accessed by the more expensive Model X. With the Model Y L’s lower price, Tesla could become more competitive in the three-row SUV segment.
As noted by longtime Tesla owner and investor @_SFTahoe, the Model Y L could also become a more premium option for the company’s Robotaxi business, thanks to its second row captain seats and spacious interior. The expansion of Model Y L Robotaxis should also be impressive considering Tesla’s mastery of mass manufacturing techniques.
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