Tesla put several of its vehicles including a Plaid Model X to the test for extreme heat and durability. The testing took place in Dubai where temperatures reached over 120 degrees Fahrenheit this summer.
Extreme heat and durability testing in Dubai đ« pic.twitter.com/xOmt7G9seh
— Tesla (@Tesla) August 30, 2022
Tesla’s field quality engineers went to Dubai during the hottest time of the year for extreme heat and durability testing, the company said on Instagram. The temperatures reached over 122 degrees Fahrenheit during the tests.
Tesla shared several photos of its vehicles in Dubai, sand dunes, and a camel posing with a Model 3. In one photo, an engineer was driving the Model X Plaid. Another photo showed an engineer posing with a goat and in another, you could see the dust flying as the vehicles were driving on the roads with sand on either side. You can view all the photos here.
The field testing looked to be quite an adventure in the sand dunes and shows how far Tesla is willing to go to ensure the performance and safety of its vehicles. Testing the vehicles in the extreme heat is no easy matter. This type of heat requires preparation for those who are not used to it.
Just to show some perspective, I took a quick check of the weather which showed 92 degrees and 51% humidity. Although I’m pretty used to that here in Louisiana, that is a typical daytime temperature for us. For Dubai, it was just after 9 pm.
I suspect that the testing took place either in June or July even. In June, Dubai was actually making its own fake rain to beat the heat where temperatures reached over 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
Note: Johnna is a Tesla shareholder and supports its mission.Â
Your feedback is important. If you have any comments, or concerns, or see a typo, you can email me at johnna@teslarati.com. You can also reach me on Twitter @JohnnaCrider1
News
Elon Musk confirms Tesla FSD V14.2 will see widespread rollout
Musk shared the news in a post on social media platform X.

Elon Musk has confirmed that Tesla will be implementing a wide rollout of Full Self-Driving (FSD) V14 with the systemâs V14.2 update. Musk shared the news in a post on social media platform X.
FSD V14.1.2 earns strong praise from testers
Muskâs comment came as a response to Tesla owner and longtime FSD tester AI DRIVR, who noted that it might be time to release Full Self-Driving to the fleet because V14.1.2 has already become very refined.
â95% of the indecisive lane changes and braking have been fixed in FSD 14.1.2. I havenât touched my steering wheel in two days. I think itâs time, Tesla AI,â the longtime FSD tester wrote.Â
AI DRIVRâs comment received quite a bit of support from fellow Tesla drivers, some of whom noted that the improvements that were implemented in V14.1.2 are substantial. Others also agreed that itâs time for FSD to see a wide release.
In his reply to the FSD tester, CEO Elon Musk noted that FSD V14âs wide release would happen with V14.2. â14.2 for widespread use,â Musk wrote in his reply.Â
Mad Max mode makes headlines
One of the key features that was introduced with FSDâs current iteration is Mad Max mode, which allows for higher speeds and more frequent lane changes than the previous âHurryâ mode. Videos and social media posts from FSD testers have shown the system deftly handling complex traffic, merging seamlessly, and maintaining an assertive but safe driving behavior with Mad Max mode engaged.
Tesla AI head Ashok Elluswamy recently noted in a post on X that Mad Max mode was built to handle congested daytime traffic, making it extremely useful for drivers who tend to find themselves in heavy roads during their daily commutes. With Musk now hinting that FSD V14.2 will go on wide release, it might only be a matter of time before the larger Tesla fleet gets to experience the notable improvements of FSD’s V14 update.
News
Multiple Tesla Cybercab units spotted at Giga Texas crash test facility
The vehicles were covered, but one could easily recognize the Cybercabâs sleek lines and compact size.

It appears that Tesla is ramping up its activities surrounding the development and likely initial production of the Cybercab at Giga Texas. This was, at least, hinted at in a recent drone flyover of the massive electric vehicle production facility in Austin.
Cybercab sightings fuel speculations
As observed by longtime Giga Texas drone operator Joe Tegtmeyer, Tesla had several covered Cybercab units outside the facilityâs crash testing facility at the time of his recent flyover. The vehicles were covered, but one could easily recognize the Cybercabâs sleek lines and compact size. Tegtmeyer also observed during his flyover that production of the Model Y Standard seems to be hitting its pace.
The drone operator noted that the seven covered Cybercabs might be older prototypes being decommissioned or new units awaiting crash tests. Either scenario points to a ramp-up in Cybercab activity at Giga Texas, however. âIn either case, this is another datapoint indicating production is getting closer to happening,â Tegtmeyer wrote on X, highlighting that the autonomous two-seaters were quite exciting to see.
Cybercab production targets
This latest sighting follows reports of renewed Cybercab appearances at both the Fremont Factory and Giga Texas. A test unit was recently spotted driving on Giga Texasâ South River Road. Another Cybercab, seen at Teslaâs Fremont Factory, appeared to be manually driven, suggesting that the vehicleâs current prototypes may still be produced with temporary steering controls.
The Tesla Cybercab is designed to be the companyâs highest-volume vehicle, with CEO Elon Musk estimating that the autonomous two-seater should see an annual production rate of about 2 million units per year. To accomplish this, Tesla will be building the Cybercab using its âUnboxedâ process, which should help the vehicleâs production line achieve outputs that are more akin to consumer electronics production lines.
Elon Musk
Teslas in the Boring Co. Vegas Loop are about to get a big change
Elon Musk has a big update for Teslas that operate within the Boring Company’s Vegas Loop.

Tesla vehicles operating in the Boring Company’s Vegas Loop are about to get a big change, CEO Elon Musk said.
In Las Vegas, the Boring Company operates the Vegas Loop, an underground tunnel system that uses Teslas to drop people off at various hotspots on the strip. It’s been active for a few years now and is expanding to other resorts, hotels, and destinations.
Currently, there are stops at three resorts: Westgate, the Encore, and Resorts World. However, there will eventually be “over 100 stations and span over 68 miles of tunnel,” the Vegas Loop website says.
The Loop utilizes Tesla Model 3 and Model Y vehicles to send passengers to their desired destinations. They are currently driven using the Full Self-Driving suite, but they also have safety drivers in each vehicle to ensure safety.
Tesla Cybertruck rides are crucial for Vegas Loop expansion to airport
Tesla and the Boring Company have been working to remove drivers from the vehicles used in the Loop, but now, it appears there is a set timeline to have them out, according to CEO Elon Musk:
The Tesla cars operating in The Boring Company tunnels under Las Vegas will be driverless in a month or two https://t.co/mX4nNrJui9
â Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 18, 2025
Musk says the Boring Co. will no longer rely on safety drivers within the Teslas for operation. Instead, Tesla will look to remove the safety drivers from the cars within the next month or two, a similar timeline for what Musk believes the Robotaxi platform will look like in Austin.
In Texas, as Robotaxi continues to operate as it has since June, there are still safety monitors within the car who sit in the passenger’s seat. They are there to ensure a safe experience for riders.
When the route takes the vehicle on the highway, safety monitors move into the driver’s seat.
However, Tesla wants to be able to remove safety monitors from its vehicles in Austin by the end of the year, Musk has said recently.
In early September, Musk said that the safety monitors are “just there for the first few months to be extra safe.” He then added that there “should be no safety driver by end of year.”
The safety driver is just there for the first few months to be extra safe.
Should be no safety driver by end of year.
â Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 4, 2025
-
Elon Musk1 day ago
SpaceX posts Starship booster feat thatâs so nutty, it doesnât even look real
-
News3 days ago
Tesla launches new interior option for Model Y
-
News3 days ago
Tesla launches ‘Mad Max’ Full Self-Driving Speed Profile, its fastest yet
-
News3 days ago
Tesla makes big move with its Insurance program
-
Elon Musk2 days ago
Elon Musk was right all along about Tesla’s rivals and EV subsidies
-
News1 day ago
Tesla FSD gets first rave reviews from media outlets in Japan
-
Elon Musk23 hours ago
Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s $1 trillion pay package hits first adversity from proxy firm
-
News2 days ago
Tesla widens rollout of new Full Self-Driving suite to more owners