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Trump says he ‘has to be for electric cars’ because of Musk endorsement
Presidential candidate Donald Trump spoke at a rally in Georgia over the weekend, and while he maintained plans to end U.S. President Joe Biden’s electric vehicle (EV) “mandate,” he also added that he was a supporter of the technology as a result of his endorsement from Tesla CEO Elon Musk.
Trump held a rally in Atlanta, Georgia, on Saturday, during which he noted that he is supportive of EVs due to Musk officially endorsing him for president last month. Trump has gone back and forth on EVs over the last several weeks, and although Biden doesn’t formally have an “EV mandate,” Trump has doubled down on plans to end the mandate on his first day in office, if elected.
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President Joe Biden comes after Elon Musk following Trump endorsement
“She wants to get rid of gas-powered cars and replace them with all electric,” Trump said during the speech, referring to Democratic Presidential nominee Kamala Harris. “They don’t go far, they cost too much, they’re all made in China; other than that they’re fantastic, and I’m for electric cars.”
“I have to be, you know, because Elon endorsed me very strongly, Elon. So I have no choice,” Trump added.
The presidential candidate also went on to say he thought EVs should be a part of the market, though he emphasized that he thinks switching to only EVs was unwise, partially due to the cost of chargers.
“I’m for a small slice as a slice. You want to have every kind of a car imaginable,” Trump said. “You want to have gas-propelled cars, you want to have hybrids, you want to have every kind of a car imaginable. They want to go all electric, and there’s no way you can ever load them up. They call it loading them, you can’t load them.”
Trump also went on to allude to the amount of money that would need to be spent to install EV chargers in the “middle West,” where he says the country is going to have to spend $9 trillion. He then said that, for just eight chargers, it cost $9 billion, adding that that was a good deal.
The speech touched on several different subjects, and the EV comments came following Trump’s claims that he would “end the $100 trillion green new scam,” lower energy prices, and re-launch several drilling projects. He also detailed plan his apparent plans to build an iron dome over the entire country to protect against World War 3, which he says is “very close to happening.”
To be sure, the so-called “mandate” Trump was talking about doesn’t exist, though he’s likely referring to emissions standards set by Biden with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), requiring U.S. light-duty auto sales to reach a 67-percent market share of overall EVs by 2032, with that ratio required to meet 46 percent for medium-duty vehicles. The target is also aiming for about 50 percent of auto sales to be electric by 2030, in line with a goal Biden had set a few years earlier.
Another program that is thought to hang in the balance if Trump is elected is the $7,500 federal EV tax credit, which Trump and running mate J.D. Vance have vocally opposed in the past. Last year, Vance proposed a bill that would replace the $7,500 credit with one of the same amount for gas vehicles, additionally pointing to U.S. reliance on China for EVs and their materials.
You can watch the full rally below, with Trump’s statements about EVs taking place about 20 minutes in.
What are your thoughts? Let me know at zach@teslarati.com, find me on X at @zacharyvisconti, or send us tips at tips@teslarati.com.
Elon Musk
Starlink achieves major milestones in 2025 progress report
Starlink wrapped up 2025 with impressive growth, adding more than 4.6 million new active customers and expanding service to 35 additional countries, territories, and markets.
Starlink wrapped up 2025 with impressive growth, adding more than 4.6 million new active customers and expanding service to 35 additional countries, territories, and markets. The company also completed deployment of its first-generation Direct to Cell constellation, launching over 650 satellites in just 18 months to enable cellular connectivity.
SpaceX highlighted Starlink’s impressive 2025 progress in an extensive report.
Key achievements from Starlink’s 2025 Progress
Starlink connected over 4.6 million new customers with high-speed internet while bringing service to 35 more regions worldwide in 2025. Starlink is now connecting 9.2 million people worldwide. The service achieved this just weeks after hitting its 8 million customer milestone.
Starlink is now available in 155 markets, including areas that are unreachable by traditional ISPs. As per SpaceX, Starlink has also provided over 21 million airline passengers and 20 million cruise passengers with reliable high-speed internet connectivity during their travels.
Starlink Direct to Cell
Starlink’s Direct to Cell constellation, more than 650 satellites strong, has already connected over 12 million people at least once, marking a breakthrough in global mobile coverage.
Starlink Direct to Cell is currently rolled out to 22 countries and 6 continents, with over 6 million monthly customers. Starlink Direct to Cell also has 27 MNO partners to date.
“This year, SpaceX completed deployment of the first generation of the Starlink Direct to Cell constellation, with more than 650 satellites launched to low-Earth orbit in just 18 months. Starlink Direct to Cell has connected more than 12 million people, and counting, at least once, providing life-saving connectivity when people need it most,” SpaceX wrote.
News
Tesla Giga Nevada celebrates production of 6 millionth drive unit
To celebrate the milestone, the Giga Nevada team gathered for a celebratory group photo.
Tesla’s Giga Nevada has reached an impressive milestone, producing its 6 millionth drive unit as 2925 came to a close.
To celebrate the milestone, the Giga Nevada team gathered for a celebratory group photo.
6 million drive units
The achievement was shared by the official Tesla Manufacturing account on social media platform X. “Congratulations to the Giga Nevada team for producing their 6 millionth Drive Unit!” Tesla wrote.
The photo showed numerous factory workers assembled on the production floor, proudly holding golden balloons that spelled out “6000000″ in front of drive unit assembly stations. Elon Musk gave credit to the Giga Nevada team, writing, “Congrats on 6M drive units!” in a post on X.
Giga Nevada’s essential role
Giga Nevada produces drive units, battery packs, and energy products. The facility has been a cornerstone of Tesla’s scaling since opening, and it was the crucial facility that ultimately enabled Tesla to ramp the Model 3 and Model Y. Even today, it serves as Tesla’s core hub for battery and drivetrain components for vehicles that are produced in the United States.
Giga Nevada is expected to support Tesla’s ambitious 2026 targets, including the launch of vehicles like the Tesla Semi and the Cybercab. Tesla will have a very busy 2026, and based on Giga Nevada’s activities so far, it appears that the facility will be equally busy as well.
News
Tesla Supercharger network delivers record 6.7 TWh in 2025
The network now exceeds 75,000 stalls globally, and it supports even non-Tesla vehicles across several key markets.
Tesla’s Supercharger Network had its biggest year ever in 2025, delivering a record 6.7 TWh of electricity to vehicles worldwide.
To celebrate its busy year, the official @TeslaCharging account shared an infographic showing the Supercharger Network’s growth from near-zero in 2012 to this year’s impressive milestone.
Record 6.7 TWh delivered in 2025
The bar chart shows steady Supercharger energy delivery increases since 2012. Based on the graphic, the Supercharger Network started small in the mid-2010s and accelerated sharply after 2019, when the Model 3 was going mainstream.
Each year from 2020 onward showed significantly more energy delivery, with 2025’s four quarters combining for the highest total yet at 6.7 TWh.
This energy powered millions of charging sessions across Tesla’s growing fleet of vehicles worldwide. The network now exceeds 75,000 stalls globally, and it supports even non-Tesla vehicles across several key markets. This makes the Supercharger Network loved not just by Tesla owners but EV drivers as a whole.
Resilience after Supercharger team changes
2025’s record energy delivery comes despite earlier 2024 layoffs on the Supercharger team, which sparked concerns about the system’s expansion pace. Max de Zegher, Tesla Director of Charging North America, also highlighted that “Outside China, Superchargers delivered more energy than all other fast chargers combined.”
Longtime Tesla owner and FSD tester Whole Mars Catalog noted the achievement as proof of continued momentum post-layoffs. At the time of the Supercharger team’s layoffs in 2024, numerous critics were claiming that Elon Musk was halting the network’s expansion altogether, and that the team only remained because the adults in the room convinced the juvenile CEO to relent.
Such a scenario, at least based on the graphic posted by the Tesla Charging team on X, seems highly implausible.
Starlink achieves major milestones in 2025 progress report
Tesla Giga Nevada celebrates production of 6 millionth drive unit
