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VW’s largest plant to get EV makeover, setting up showdown with Tesla’s Giga Berlin
Volkswagen’s Wolfsburg, Germany production facility is being upgraded to make room for electric vehicle production, setting up a showdown with Giga Berlin in an epic battle of massive EV production facilities in Germany.
An internal video conference with various VW team members and CEO Herbert Diess revealed the German automotive powerhouse would being planning for its largest facility to begin producing electric vehicles in a substantial push to create EVs under the Volkswagen name. The Wolfsburg facility is the world’s largest automotive factory. Volkswagen creates 800,000 vehicles a year at the facility, with the popular Golf and Tiguan models being the main products at the plant.
Volkswagen, however, has new plans for Wolfsburg, and it requires an overhaul of the existing facility to make way for EV powertrains to be manufactured. Diess said during a video conference on Monday that Wolfsburg will be fitted with the latest EV technology and software operations, according to people who were tuned in that work for Volkswagen. These sources wished to remain anonymous as the meeting wasn’t open to the public, Bloomberg initially reported.
Diess’ plans to upgrade Wolfsburg aren’t a guessing game by any means. Volkswagen is planning to draw inspiration from Tesla, the leader in electric vehicle manufacturing and technology, in an attempt to recreate the efficient production processes that the California-based company has used to ramp its production efforts to 500,000 cars a year. Tesla is able to build an EV in around 10 hours, less than half the amount of time that it takes Volkswagen to build one of its cars.
The comparison with Tesla is nothing new for Volkswagen. The company has used Tesla as a guideline to measure its success and efforts in its push toward electrification numerous times. In the past, Volkswagen has mentioned Tesla’s lead in software, and the company’s domination in the sector has compelled Diess to establish a strong relationship with CEO Elon Musk. The two have often traded compliments with one another and have even given one another test drives in upcoming models.
-->But, for now, the two companies remain competitors in the sector, and Volkswagen’s large-scale efforts are not being taken lightly. The upgrades to the Wolfsburg facility set up a major showdown with Tesla’s Giga Berlin factory, which is set to begin producing vehicles next Summer. Giga Berlin is set to be a state-of-the-art facility that will introduce new technologies and manufacturing techniques for Tesla. Set up to be a marvel of vehicle technology and engineering, Musk plans to use new-age manufacturing techniques, like casting machines and a battery production line to increase annual output to keep up with increasing demand.
Europe, being a significant market for EVs due to their overwhelming popularity and alignment with upcoming climate change targets, could be the path to success for either company. While Tesla is already widely regarded as the leader in EV manufacturing, Volkswagen could be considered the #2 company simply because of its commitment to transitioning away from petrol-powered engines.
With Diess set to remain at Volkswagen’s helm until at least April 2023, he has the board’s support moving forward. The next step is getting the facilities it has in place updated to support EV manufacturing. With several of these plants already building the ID.3 and ID.4, the name of the game is ramping production to massive volumes.
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Tesla’s new Holiday perk is timed perfectly to make FSD a household name
Tesla AI4 owners get FSD (Supervised) through Christmas, New Year’s Eve and well into the post-holiday travel season.
Tesla quietly rolled out a free Full Self-Driving (Supervised) trial for roughly 1.5 million HW4 owners in North America who never bought the package, and the timing could very well be genius.
As it turns out, the trial doesn’t end after 30 days. Instead, it expires January 8, 2026, meaning owners get FSD (Supervised) through Christmas, New Year’s Eve and well into the post-holiday travel season. This extended window positions the feature for maximum word-of-mouth exposure.
A clever holiday gift
Tesla watcher Sawyer Merritt first spotted the detail after multiple owners shared screenshots showing the trial expiring on January 8. He confirmed with affected users that none had active FSD subscriptions before the rollout. He also observed that Tesla never called the promotion a “30-day trial,” as the in-car message simply reads “You’re Getting FSD (Supervised) For the Holidays,” which technically runs until after the new year.
The roughly 40-day period covers peak family travel and gatherings, giving owners ample opportunity to showcase the latest FSD V14’s capabilities on highway trips, crowded parking lots and neighborhood drives. With relatives riding along, hands-off highway driving and automatic lane changes could become instant conversation starters.
Rave reviews for FSD V14 highlight demo potential
FSD has been receiving positive reviews from users as of late. Following the release of FSD v14.2.1, numerous owners praised the update for its smoothness and reliability. Tesla owner @LactoseLunatic called it a “huge leap forward from version 14.1.4,” praising extreme smoothness, snappy lane changes and assertive yet safe behavior that allows relaxed monitoring.
-->Another Tesla owner, @DevinOlsenn, drove 600 km without disengagements, noting his wife now defaults to FSD for daily use due to its refined feel. Sawyer Merritt also tested FSD V14.2.1 in snow on unplowed New Hampshire roads, and the system stayed extra cautious without hesitation. Longtime FSD tester Chuck Cook highlighted improved sign recognition in school zones, showing better dynamic awareness. These reports of fewer interventions and a more “sentient” drive could turn family passengers into advocates, fueling subscriptions come January.
Elon Musk
Elon Musk predicts AI and robotics could make work “optional” within 20 years
Speaking on entrepreneur Nikhil Kamath’s podcast, Musk predicted that machines will soon handle most forms of labor, leaving humans to work only if they choose to.
Elon Musk stated that rapid advances in artificial intelligence and robotics could make traditional work unnecessary within two decades.
Speaking on entrepreneur Nikhil Kamath’s podcast, Musk predicted that machines will soon handle most forms of labor, leaving humans to work only if they choose to.
Work as a “hobby”
During the discussion, Musk said the accelerating capability of AI systems and general-purpose robots will eventually cover all essential tasks, making human labor a choice rather than an economic requirement. “In less than 20 years, working will be optional. Working at all will be optional. Like a hobby,” Musk said.
When Kamath asked whether this future is driven by massive productivity growth, Musk agreed, noting that people will still be free to work if they enjoy the routine or the challenge. He compared future employment to home gardening, as it is something people can still do for personal satisfaction even if buying food from a store is far easier.
“Optional” work in the future
Elon Musk acknowledged the boldness of his claim and joked that people might look back in 20 years and say he was wrong. That being said, the CEO noted that such a scenario could even happen sooner than his prediction, at least if one were to consider the pace of the advancements in AI and robotics.
-->“Obviously people can play this back in 20 years and say, ‘Look, Elon made this ridiculous prediction and it’s not true,’ but I think it will turn out to be true, that in less than 20 years, maybe even as little as ten or 15 years, the advancements in AI and robotics will bring us to the point where working is optional,” Musk said.
Elon Musk’s comments echo his previous sentiments at Tesla’s 2025 Annual Shareholder Meeting, where he noted that Optimus could ultimately eliminate poverty. He also noted that robots like Optimus could eventually provide people worldwide with the best medical care.
Elon Musk
Elon Musk reiterates why Tesla will never make an electric motorcycle
Tesla CEO Elon Musk preemptively shut down speculations about a Tesla road bike once more.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk preemptively shut down speculations about a Tesla road bike once more, highlighting that the electric vehicle maker has no plans to enter the electric motorcycle market.
Musk posted his clarification in a post on X.
Musk’s reply to a fun AI video
X user @Moandbhr posted an AI video featuring the Tesla CEO on the social media platform, captioning it with “Mr. Elon Musk Just Revealed the Game-Changing Tesla Motorcycle.” The short clip depicted Musk approaching a sleek, single-wheeled vehicle, stepping onto it, and gliding off into the distance amid cheers. The fun video received a lot of traction on X, gaining 3.1 million views as of writing.
Musk replied to the post, stating that a Tesla motorcycle is not going to happen. “Never happening, as we can’t make motorcycles safe. For Community Notes, my near death experience was on a road bike. Dirt bikes are safe if you ride carefully, as you can’t be smashed by a truck,” Musk wrote in his reply.
Musk’s Past Comments on Two-Wheelers
Musk also detailed his reservations about motorcycles in a December 2019 X post while responding to questions about Tesla’s potential ATV. At the time, he responded positively to an electric ATV, though he also opposed the idea of a Tesla road-going motorcycle. Musk did state that electric dirt bikes might be cool, since they do not operate in areas where large vehicles like Class 8 trucks are present.
-->“Electric dirt bikes would be cool too. We won’t do road bikes, as too dangerous. I was hit by a truck & almost died on one when I was 17,” Musk wrote in his post.
Considering Musk’s comments about dirt bikes, however, perhaps Tesla would eventually offer a road bike as a recreational vehicle. Such a two-wheeler would be a good fit for the Cybertruck, as well as future products like the Robovan, which could be converted into an RV.
Tesla’s new Holiday perk is timed perfectly to make FSD a household name
Elon Musk predicts AI and robotics could make work “optional” within 20 years
