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Volvo to adopt “Tesla style” megacasts for its next-gen electric vehicles

Credit: Idea Group/YouTube

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The use of Giga Presses may be considered futile and ill-conceived by Tesla skeptics, but it appears that some veteran automakers are currently preparing to adopt the technology for their next generation electric vehicles. First up seems to be Volvo, which recently noted that its Torslanda factory in Sweden, one of the company’s oldest and largest plants, would be shifting to the use of megacasts within the coming years. 

Similar to Tesla, which practically pioneered the use of megacasts by using them for the Model Y, Volvo would be using the massive components for its next-generation electric vehicles. In a statement to Automotive News Europe, Volvo Solution Architect Vehicle Platform Mikael Fermer remarked that the use of megacasts is one of the company’s biggest technological shifts. “This is the biggest technology shift since we switched from wood to steel (for car bodies),” Fermer said. 

Volvo’s Torslanda car plant (Credit: Volvo Cars)

The Torslanda factory is one of Volvo’s most historical sites, having been opened in April 1964. The facility is expected to receive numerous changes during its transition into an electric vehicle factory. A battery assembly plant would be added to the site, which would allow the automaker to integrate battery cells and modules to the floor structures of its upcoming EVs. 

Volvo’s head of engineering and operations Javier Varela noted that the shift to the use of megacasts could result in 75% time savings compared with how large aluminum body components are traditionally put together today. “You avoid the stamping and welding processes and replace them with a megacasting process that is a one-shot injection followed by some tweaks after the injection,” Varela said. 

Varela also noted that ultimately, the use of megacasted parts should allow Volvo to enjoy some sustainability benefits. “All the aluminum that you are injecting is used. You don’t have any scrap like you do with stamping,” Varela added. 

While exciting, the utilization of megacasts in Volvo’s Torslanda plant is expected to start around 2025. By this time, the factory would likely also be ready to start the full production of the company’s next-generation EVs. Today, the Torslanda plant produces vehicles like the Volvo XC90 and XC60 SUVs, as well as the V90 station wagon. 

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Credit: Tesla

Interestingly enough, it is not just Volvo that is looking to adopt megacasts in their future vehicle production. Other automakers such as German luxury car maker Mercedes-Benz is reportedly looking to utilize single-piece casts as well. Mercedes-Benz is reportedly looking to utilize megacasts to form the rear of its EQXX concept, which made its debut in Las Vegas last month during CES 2022. 

Volvo is yet to announce if it is also purchasing Giga Presses from the IDRA Group, the company currently producing Tesla’s machines. That being said, the automaker did state that it was speaking with leading machine manufacturers to help the company make the switch to megacasts at the Torslanda site. No final decisions have been made yet, however, according to a Volvo spokesperson.

Volvo is looking to make half of its global vehicle sales from battery-powered cars by 2025. By 2030, the company plans to be an electric-only carmaker. To help foster and accelerate this transition, Volvo has announced investments totaling over $4 billion over the past two years. 

Don’t hesitate to contact us with news tips. Just send a message to simon@teslarati.com to give us a heads up.

Simon is an experienced automotive reporter with a passion for electric cars and clean energy. Fascinated by the world envisioned by Elon Musk, he hopes to make it to Mars (at least as a tourist) someday. For stories or tips--or even to just say a simple hello--send a message to his email, simon@teslarati.com or his handle on X, @ResidentSponge.

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SpaceX IPO is coming, CEO Elon Musk confirms

However, it appears Musk is ready for SpaceX to go public, as Ars Technica Senior Space Editor Eric Berger wrote an op-ed that indicated he thought SpaceX would go public soon. Musk replied, basically confirming it.

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Joel Kowsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Elon Musk confirmed through a post on X that a SpaceX initial public offering (IPO) is on the way after hinting at it several times earlier this year.

It also comes one day after Bloomberg reported that SpaceX was aiming for a valuation of $1.5 trillion, adding that it wanted to raise $30 billion.

Musk has been transparent for most of the year that he wanted to try to figure out a way to get Tesla shareholders to invest in SpaceX, giving them access to the stock.

He has also recognized the issues of having a public stock, like litigation exposure, quarterly reporting pressures, and other inconveniences.

However, it appears Musk is ready for SpaceX to go public, as Ars Technica Senior Space Editor Eric Berger wrote an op-ed that indicated he thought SpaceX would go public soon.

Musk replied, basically confirming it:

Berger believes the IPO would help support the need for $30 billion or more in capital needed to fund AI integration projects, such as space-based data centers and lunar satellite factories. Musk confirmed recently that SpaceX “will be doing” data centers in orbit.

AI appears to be a “key part” of SpaceX getting to Musk, Berger also wrote. When writing about whether or not Optimus is a viable project and product for the company, he says that none of that matters. Musk thinks it is, and that’s all that matters.

It seems like Musk has certainly mulled something this big for a very long time, and the idea of taking SpaceX public is not just likely; it is necessary for the company to get to Mars.

The details of when SpaceX will finally hit that public status are not known. Many of the reports that came out over the past few days indicate it would happen in 2026, so sooner rather than later.

But there are a lot of things on Musk’s plate early next year, especially with Cybercab production, the potential launch of Unsupervised Full Self-Driving, and the Roadster unveiling, all planned for Q1.

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Tesla adds 15th automaker to Supercharger access in 2025

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Credit: Tesla

Tesla has added the 15th automaker to the growing list of companies whose EVs can utilize the Supercharger Network this year, as BMW is the latest company to gain access to the largest charging infrastructure in the world.

BMW became the 15th company in 2025 to gain Tesla Supercharger access, after the company confirmed to its EV owners that they could use any of the more than 25,000 Supercharging stalls in North America.

Newer BMW all-electric cars, like the i4, i5, i7, and iX, are able to utilize Tesla’s V3 and V4 Superchargers. These are the exact model years, via the BMW Blog:

  • i4: 2022-2026 model years
  • i5: 2024-2025 model years
    • 2026 i5 (eDrive40 and xDrive40) after software update in Spring 2026
  • i7: 2023-2026 model years
  • iX: 2022-2025 model years
    • 2026 iX (all versions) after software update in Spring 2026

With the expansion of the companies that gained access in 2025 to the Tesla Supercharger Network, a vast majority of non-Tesla EVs are able to use the charging stalls to gain range in their cars.

So far in 2025, Tesla has enabled Supercharger access to:

  • Audi
  • BMW
  • Genesis
  • Honda
  • Hyundai
  • Jaguar Land Rover
  • Kia
  • Lucid
  • Mercedes-Benz
  • Nissan
  • Polestar
  • Subaru
  • Toyota
  • Volkswagen
  • Volvo

Drivers with BMW EVs who wish to charge at Tesla Superchargers must use an NACS-to-CCS1 adapter. In Q2 2026, BMW plans to release its official adapter, but there are third-party options available in the meantime.

They will also have to use the Tesla App to enable Supercharging access to determine rates and availability. It is a relatively seamless process.

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Tesla adds new feature that will be great for crowded parking situations

This is the most recent iteration of the app and was priming owners for the slowly-released Holiday Update.

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Credit: Grok

Tesla has added a new feature that will be great for crowded parking lots, congested parking garages, or other confusing times when you cannot seem to pinpoint where your car went.

Tesla has added a new Vehicle Locator feature to the Tesla App with App Update v4.51.5.

This is the most recent iteration of the app and was priming owners for the slowly-released Holiday Update.

While there are several new features, which we will reveal later in this article, perhaps one of the coolest is that of the Vehicle Locator, which will now point you in the direction of your car using a directional arrow on the home screen. This is similar to what Apple uses to find devices:

In real time, the arrow gives an accurate depiction of which direction you should walk in to find your car. This seems extremely helpful in large parking lots or unfamiliar shopping centers.

Getting to your car after a sporting event is an event all in itself; this feature will undoubtedly help with it:

Tesla’s previous app versions revealed the address at which you could locate your car, which was great if you parked on the street in a city setting. It was also possible to use the map within the app to locate your car.

However, this new feature gives a more definitive location for your car and helps with the navigation to it, instead of potentially walking randomly.

It also reveals the distance you are from your car, which is a big plus.

Along with this new addition, Tesla added Photobooth features, Dog Mode Live Activity, Custom Wraps and Tints for Colorizer, and Dashcam Clip details.

All in all, this App update was pretty robust.

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