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Tesla’s vehicles expected to get Grok voice assistant—but when?

Recently launched Grok voice features hint at what Tesla’s future voice assistant could look like.

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Credit: Tesla

A voice assistant based on xAI’s Grok language model is expected to make it to Tesla’s vehicles soon, and while it isn’t yet clear exactly when, the release of a new version of the AI with a voice mode just a few weeks ago suggests that it could be drawing near.

Last month, xAI debuted Grok 3, its latest version of the language model, along with rolling out a voice feature just a few days later that lets users talk to and get a response from the AI. During a broadcast on X in January, Musk also confirmed that Tesla’s vehicles would soon get Grok as a voice assistant, after he first teased a native version of the language model in the company’s vehicles back in November 2023.

Musk didn’t disclose exactly when Tesla’s vehicles would get the Grok voice assistant, simply saying that the feature was “coming soon.”

“Grok in Teslas is coming soon,” Musk said. “So you will just be able to talk to your Tesla and ask for anything.”

READ MORE ON XAI: xAI’s Atlanta data center with $700M in AI equipment to be operated with X: report

As Musk pointed out in his gaming broadcast, the system is expected to let drivers talk directly to their vehicle, to which Grok will respond and make the necessary changes as a built-in voice assistant. Currently, however, Grok 3 and its voice mode are only available to those with a Premium Plus account on X, running $40 a month.

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xAI officially launched a standalone Grok app for Apple devices in January, following suit for Androids just weeks later in February. Voice functionality with Grok in Tesla vehicles has also been teased in a few under-the-radar updates from the company since last year.

As one example in December, Tesla hinted at an upcoming voice assistant with the ability to get vehicles to respond “Hello” when greeted by drivers with “Hello” or “Hi,” though they would previously reply with “command not understood.”

The update, while seemingly small, also followed the addition of a wake word capability to Tesla’s vehicles last May, as discovered in source code by hacker and code sleuth greentheonly.

Elon Musk says xAI will develop an AI game studio

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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 sends cryptic message that Robotaxi expansion is imminent

Tesla looks to be imminently launching Robotaxi rides in California.

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tesla model x
A Tesla Motors Inc Model X is seen at Tesla's introduction of its new battery swapping program in Hawthorne, California June 20, 2013. Tesla Motors Inc on Thursday unveiled a system to swap battery packs in its electric cars in about 90 seconds, a service Chief Executive Elon Musk said will help overcome fears about their driving range. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson (UNITED STATES - Tags: TRANSPORT BUSINESS LOGO) - RTX10VSH

Tesla has sent a cryptic message that the expansion of its Robotaxi platform is imminent in an area that the company indicated is a target of the ride-hailing service.

Tesla Robotaxi is currently available in Austin, Texas, but the company has stated for some time that its intention is to expand to California, among other states.

Now, it seems that Tesla is closer than ever to launching Robotaxi in California, based on a new message it sent to users of its Robotaxi app.

We received the message over the weekend, and it required us to accept and agree to new terms. Here’s what it said:

“If your ride is taking place outside of California, it is being conducted autonomously…If your ride is taking place in California, it is being conducted with a safety driver using FSD (Supervised) pursuant to authority from the California Public Utilities Commission.”

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The message basically states that Tesla’s Robotaxi rides in Austin will differ from the ones that take place in California in a big way.

In Texas, there is nobody in the driver’s seat. There is a Safety Monitor in the passenger’s seat who simply ensures that everything goes smoothly:

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Watch the first true Tesla Robotaxi intervention by safety monitor

In California, there will be a monitor in the driver’s seat, so it will essentially be the same as taking a ride in a vehicle with Full Self-Driving (Supervised).

This will, without a doubt, be a vocal point of the skeptics of the Robotaxi program, but for now, it is proof of Tesla’s “paranoid” focus on safety.

There has not been any established geofence in California within the Robotaxi app, so the program is not yet active in the state. However, it seems the release of the Robotaxi platform in the Golden State is imminent.

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Tesla Robotaxi execution should lead to valuation ‘far exceeding current levels’: analyst

RBC Capital bumped its price target on Tesla stock slightly from $319 to $325.

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Credit: @TerrapinTerpene/X

Tesla’s Robotaxi platform is the primary focus for the automaker currently, and based on what has been outlined by the company as goals for the project, one firm is saying that the company’s valuation should “far exceed even current levels.”

The Robotaxi is a self-driving ride-hailing service that Tesla plans to implement in current and future vehicle builds. CEO Elon Musk and other executives have said that “the vast majority of the Tesla fleet that we’ve made is capable of being a Robotaxi,” thanks to its development of Over-the-Air software updates that increase the capability of the vehicle with a simple download.

Currently, the Robotaxi platform is only active in a portion of Austin, Texas, but Tesla is expanding to other markets, including California, Nevada, Arizona, and Florida. California will be the next market to open its doors to the Tesla Robotaxi platform.

But the name of the game is execution, and that’s what Tesla is aiming for in a timely fashion. If it can come through on all of its current goals, its valuation could explode, and one firm is holding steady on that narrative as Tesla continues to work toward expanding Robotaxi.

On Tuesday, RBC Capital analysts bumped their price target on Tesla shares (NASDAQ: TSLA) to $325 from $319, primarily due to the Robotaxi expansion and its success:

“Should Tesla be successful on all of its goals, its valuation could far exceed even current levels. The Austin Robotaxi launch has been better than many feared, and the company is looking to expand in more cities.”

There are some risks to Tesla’s narrative, but they fall outside the scope of what the company can control. In relation to Robotaxi, regulatory hurdles remain. Some regions may be slower than others to give Tesla the proper licensing to operate in their jurisdiction. This could slow the pace of Robotaxi expansion, bringing some overhang to the story.

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Additionally, Tesla is fending off narratives of slowing demand, and the White House’s decision to revoke the $7,500 EV tax credit from consumers could temper sales past Q3.

Nevertheless, Robotaxi is where Tesla’s true value seems to be focused. Successfully launching a driverless ride-sharing platform is where the company is putting all of its eggs, and revolutionizing passenger travel is where the focus lies.

RBC Capital’s note continued:

“Regulatory hurdles remain, however. Further, we expect the end of IRA credits and high levels of used EV inventory to pressure the auto business for the next several quarters.”

The slight price target bump puts RBC Capital’s expectations near where the stock is trading, as it is currently priced at around $320 at 9:54 a.m. on the East Coast.

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Tesla China sees new vehicle registrations rise to 10,700 last week

This represented a 7.6% increase from the 9,900 units that were registered in the previous week.

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Credit: Tesla Asia/X

Tesla China saw 10,700 new vehicle registrations in the week of July 21-27, 2025. This represented a 7.6% increase from the 9,900 units that were registered in the previous week, and it suggests that domestic demand for vehicles like the Model Y and Model 3 are holding steady. 

Tesla China’s Registrations

Despite the increase in weekly registrations, Tesla China’s current insurance registrations are still down 21.1% year over year. That being said, Q3 2025 is seeing quite a lot of momentum for Tesla, with the current quarter being 45.2% higher than Q2 2025. With 10,700 new vehicle registrations, the week ending July 27 also represented the second-highest registrations in the quarter so far. 

Tesla China does not report its weekly sales figures, though the company’s overall performance in the electric vehicle sector could be inferred from the new vehicle registrations. Fortunately, these registration figures are tracked closely by industry watchers and even automakers such as Li Auto.

Upcoming Developments

Tesla China sold a total of 71,599 vehicles wholesale in June, as per data from the China Passenger Car Association. This represents a small 0.83% increase from the 71,007 vehicles that were sold in the same period last year, and a 16.12% increase from the 61,662 vehicles that were sold wholesale in May, as noted in a CNEV Post report. Domestic sales in June were at 61,484, the second highest this year.

Tesla China’s sales in the coming months may see some improvement considering that the company is currently preparing to launch a six-seat, extended wheelbase version of its best-selling all-electric crossover called the Model Y L. The Model Y L is expected to be a true family hauler, allowing Tesla to compete more aggressively against rivals in the domestic auto market.

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