

News
Tesla’s new Tilburg site hints at new storage and parts center ahead of Model 3 EU push
Tesla appears to be expanding its activities in Tilburg, Netherlands, as the company has acquired a third major facility in the region. The yet-to-be announced complex spans 387,500 square feet (36,000 square meters) and is located at Vossenbergseweg, close to Tesla’s assembly plant and delivery center.
The electric car maker’s activities were initially shared online by Tesla owner-enthusiast Hans Noordsij, who noted that he was tipped off about the facility recently. Tesla has so far been tight-lipped about the purpose of the new site, with local news publication AD.nl reportedly being unable to get information about the new facility from the electric car maker. In a statement to Teslarati, Hans noted that when he inquired about the new site during a service appointment for his Model S, Tesla’s staff at the service center also declined to confirm the purpose of the facility.
- Tesla’s new Tilburg, NL site. [Credit: Hans Noordsij/Twitter]
- Tesla’s new Tilburg, NL site. [Credit: Hans Noordsij/Twitter]
- Tesla’s new Tilburg, NL site. [Credit: Hans Noordsij/Twitter]
- Tesla’s new Tilburg, NL site. [Credit: Hans Noordsij/Twitter]
Tesla’s new Tilburg, NL site. [Credit: Hans Noordsij/Twitter]
While the nature of the new site remains unannounced, there seems to be a good chance that the 387,500-square-foot facility would be utilized to prepare for the likely influx of vehicles to the region resulting from the upcoming Model 3 push. Considering that Tesla has an assembly and delivery plant, as well as a sales and service center, in Tilburg, the new facility could serve as a location where parts for vehicles would be stored and distributed. Hans, for his part, noted that Tesla already adopts this strategy today, but on a far smaller scale.
As more electric cars saturate the NL and nearby areas, the company would need a stronger service system that can cater to the growing fleet. This is particularly true with regards to the impending arrival of the Model 3, which is expected to begin deliveries in the region sometime next year. Having a dedicated site for electric car parts distribution would ultimately help Tesla in its push to improve the ramp of its in-house service centers, which are capable of addressing repairs in short periods of time.
In some regions such as Norway, after all, Tesla is currently struggling to expand its service facilities, resulting in some electric car owners experiencing long wait times before even minor repairs are addressed. Elon Musk personally addressed this on Twitter last July, stating that owners are “right to be upset with Tesla” considering the company’s incapability to have vehicles repaired in a timely manner.
- The site of Tesla’s new facility in Tilburg, NL. [Credit: Hans Noordsij/Twitter]
- Tesla’s new Tilburg site. [Credit: Ben Ackermans/BD]
Tesla’s third Tilburg, NL site could play a vital role in the upcoming Model 3 push in the region.
If Tesla’s initiatives in the United States are any indication, though, the company appears to have found a solution to drastically reduce the waiting times for vehicle repairs. Through the use of in-house service centers, Tesla is now starting to attain shorter turnaround times for vehicles’ service and repairs. One such instance was shared earlier this month by the owners of the LikeTesla YouTube channel, whose Model 3 was involved in an accident. Utilizing an in-house service center, the Model 3 owners were able to get their electric sedan fully repaired — complete with a new bumper, a new headlight, a new front fender — in just 25 hours.
Tesla does not intend to stop there. In an update on Twitter last August, Elon Musk noted that Tesla is aiming to achieve same-day body repairs using pre-stocked parts at service centers. With this in mind, Tesla’s new Tilburg facility could be a sign that quicker turnaround times for vehicle repairs in the region could be just around the corner.
Elon Musk
USDOT Secretary visits Tesla Giga Texas, hints at national autonomous vehicle standards
The Transportation Secretary also toured the factory’s production lines and spoke with CEO Elon Musk.

United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) Secretary Sean Duffy recently visited Tesla’s Gigafactory Texas complex, where he toured the factory’s production lines and spoke with CEO Elon Musk. In a video posted following his Giga Texas visit, Duffy noted that he believes there should be a national standard for autonomous vehicles in the United States.
Duffy’s Giga Texas Visit
As could be seen in videos of his Giga Texas visit, the Transportation Secretary seemed to appreciate the work Tesla has been doing to put the United States in the forefront of innovation. “Tesla is one of the many companies helping our country reach new heights. USDOT will be right there all the way to make sure Americans stay safe,” Duffy wrote in a post on X.
He also praised Tesla for its autonomous vehicle program, highlighting that “We need American companies to keep innovating so we can outcompete the rest of the world.”
National Standard
While speaking with Tesla CEO Elon Musk, the Transportation Secretary stated that other autonomous ride-hailing companies have been lobbying for a national standard for self-driving cars. Musk shared the sentiment, stating that “It’d be wonderful for the United States to have a national set of rules for autonomous driving as opposed to 50 independent sets of rules on a state-by-state rules basis.”
Duffy agreed with the CEO’s point, stating that, “You can’t have 50 different rules for 50 different states. You need one standard.” He also noted that the Transportation Department has asked autonomous vehicle companies to submit data. By doing so, the USDOT could develop a standard for the entire United States, allowing self-driving cars to operate in a manner that is natural and safe.
News
Tesla posts Optimus’ most impressive video demonstration yet
The humanoid robot was able to complete all the tasks through a single neural network.

When Elon Musk spoke with CNBC’s David Faber in an interview at Giga Texas, he reiterated the idea that Optimus will be one of Tesla’s biggest products. Seemingly to highlight the CEO’s point, the official Tesla Optimus account on social media platform X shared what could very well be the most impressive demonstration of the humanoid robot’s capabilities to date.
Optimus’ Newest Demonstration
In its recent video demonstration, the Tesla Optimus team featured the humanoid robot performing a variety of tasks. These include household chores such as throwing the trash, using a broom and a vacuum cleaner, tearing a paper towel, stirring a pot of food, opening a cabinet, and closing a curtain, among others. The video also featured Optimus picking up a Model X fore link and placing it on a dolly.
What was most notable in the Tesla Optimus team’s demonstration was the fact that the humanoid robot was able to complete all the tasks through a single neural network. The robot’s actions were also learned directly from Optimus being fed data from first-person videos of humans performing similar tasks. This system should pave the way for Optimus to learn and refine new skills quickly and reliably.
Tesla VP for Optimus Shares Insight
In a follow-up post on X, Tesla Vice President of Optimus (Tesla Bot) Milan Kovac stated that one of the team’s goals is to have Optimus learn straight from internet videos of humans performing tasks, including footage captured in third person or by random cameras.
“We recently had a significant breakthrough along that journey, and can now transfer a big chunk of the learning directly from human videos to the bots (1st person views for now). This allows us to bootstrap new tasks much faster compared to teleoperated bot data alone (heavier operationally).
“Many new skills are emerging through this process, are called for via natural language (voice/text), and are run by a single neural network on the bot (multi-tasking). Next: expand to 3rd person video transfer (aka random internet), and push reliability via self-play (RL) in the real-, and/or synthetic- (sim / world models) world,” Kovac wrote in his post on X.
News
Starship Flight 9 nears as SpaceX’s Starbase becomes a Texan City
SpaceX’s launch site is officially incorporated as Starbase, TX. Starship Flight 9 could launch on May 27, 2025.

SpaceX’s Starbase is officially incorporated as a city in Texas, aligning with preparations for Starship Flight 9. The newly formed city in Cameron County serves as the heart of SpaceX’s Starship program.
Starbase City spans 1.5 square miles, encompassing SpaceX’s launch facility and company-owned land. A near-unanimous vote by residents, who were mostly SpaceX employees, led to its incorporation. SpaceX’s Vice President of Test and Launch, Bobby Peden, was elected mayor of Starbase. The new Texas city also has two SpaceX employees as commissioners. All Starbase officials will serve two-year terms unless extended to four by voters.
As the new city takes shape, SpaceX is preparing for the Starship Flight 9 launch, which is tentatively scheduled for May 27, 2025, at 6:30 PM CDT from Starbase, Texas.
SpaceX secured Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approval for up to 25 annual Starship and Super Heavy launches from the site. However, the FAA emphasized that “there are other licensing requirements still to be completed,” including policy, safety, and environmental reviews.
On May 15, the FAA noted SpaceX updated its launch license for Flight 9, but added: “SpaceX may not launch until the FAA either closes the Starship Flight 8 mishap investigation or makes a return to flight determination. The FAA is reviewing the mishap report SpaceX submitted on May 14.”
Proposed Texas legislation could empower Starbase officials to close local highways and restrict Boca Chica Beach access during launches. Cameron County Judge Eddie Trevino, Jr., opposes the Texas legislation, insisting beach access remain under county control. This tension highlights the balance between SpaceX’s ambitions and local interests.
Starbase’s incorporation strengthens SpaceX’s operational base as it gears up for Starship Flight 9, a critical step in its mission to revolutionize space travel. With growing infrastructure and regulatory hurdles in focus, Starbase is poised to become a cornerstone of SpaceX’s vision, blending community development with cutting-edge aerospace innovation.
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