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X Takeover adds Jared Isaacman as keynote speaker

Credit: X Takeover

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The upcoming X Takeover, formerly the Tesla Takeover, has added another keynote speaker to its lineup after it announced an appearance from Tesla’s design lead earlier this week.

Tesla Chief Designer Franz von Holzhausen was announced as a keynote speaker for the upcoming X Takeover event on Monday, and Tesla Owners Silicon Valley has now revealed that entrepreneur and Polaris Program head Jared Isaacman will join von Holzhausen as a keynote speaker. Taking place on July 27 and 28 at The Madonna Inn fields in San Luis Obispo, California, the event starts at $40 for an early bird day pass on the registration page, with that price available until April 30.

The focus of Isaacman’s keynote speech at the X Takeover will be “From Entrepreneurship to the Cosmos: A Journey of Inspiration,” along with von Holzhausen’s keynote speech on “Shaping the Future of Automotive Innovation.”

Isaacman funded and led the first private spaceflight sending civilians into orbit, dubbed the Inspiration4 mission, as part of the ongoing Polaris Program, and he is also CEO of the company Shift4 Payments. The launch also went on to get its own Netflix documentary, for which you can watch the trailer below.

The announcement also comes as the takeover event, which began as a Tesla enthusiast event in 2021, has re-branded for the upcoming year to include more than just Tesla. Instead, as highlighted by the addition of Isaacman to the keynote lineup, the event is being opened to all enthusiasts of Tesla and SpaceX, as well as Elon Musk’s other companies and other electric vehicle (EV) companies.

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In addition to the many exhibitioners expected to be at the event—there were over 60 last year and more are planned this year—a portion of ticket purchases are being donated to the charitable organizations 17 Strong and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. St Jude was also a benefactor of Isaacman’s Inspiration4 launch, and at the time, Musk himself had even donated $50 million to the cause.

The X Takeover event is set to include the following, as detailed on the registration site:

  • Inspirational Keynotes
  • Influencer Meet & Greet
  • Cybertruck Showcase
  • Tesla Pro Tips Workshop
  • Scenic Central Coast Ride & Drive
  • Tesla Synchronized Light Show
  • Engaging Panel Discussions
  • E-Mobility Demo Rides
  • Customized Tesla Showcase
  • Unique Collection of Exhibitors and Merchandise
  • Networking Opportunities
  • Professional Detailing
  • Accessories Installations

Last year, Elon’s mother, Maye Musk, was the keynote speaker, while industry manufacturing expert Sandy Munro was featured as the keynote speaker the year before. The event had around 2,000 attendees in 2023, and organizers are expecting as many as 2,000 to 3,000 for this year’s.

Tesla Owners Silicon Valley also notes that space for the event will be limited, so those hoping to attend should register as soon as possible.

New record for largest Tesla light show clinched by owners in Finland

What are your thoughts? Let me know at zach@teslarati.com, find me on X at @zacharyvisconti, or send your tips to us at tips@teslarati.com.

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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 Robotaxi riders will face the best dilemma when booking a ride

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Credit: Joe Tegtmeyer | X

Tesla has updated its Robotaxi app so riders can pick which vehicle they want before they book. The latest in-app screens now show two options side by side: the two-seat Cybercab and the four-seat Model Y.

A screenshot circulating Thursday shows the change in practice. In Austin, a rider could choose a gold Cybercab for two people or a Model Y for four. Tesla’s updated description calls Cybercab “our first purpose-built autonomous vehicle,” designed for safety, accessibility, and comfort, and says the lineup is available only through the Robotaxi app.

The distinction is more than cosmetic, and it’s important to note that Robotaxi refers to the platform, while Cybercab refers to a vehicle.

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Model Y Robotaxis have carried the service since it opened in Austin in mid-2025 and later expanded to Dallas, Houston, and parts of Florida. Those vehicles are converted production SUVs that still have steering wheels and pedals.

Cybercab is different. It has no driver controls, butterfly doors, a low seat height meant to work with wheelchairs, extra trunk space for assistive devices, and braille on the handles. Tesla has registered dozens of the two-seaters with Texas regulators in the days leading up to its September 3 Austin event.

Giving riders a choice lets Tesla match the vehicle to the trip. Most rides involve one or two people, which is where Cybercab is meant to be cheaper and more efficient to operate. Groups of three or four, or anyone who needs more space, can still request a Model Y.

The same app handles booking, payment, cabin settings, and, on Cybercab, features such as phone-based door opening and in-cabin voice controls.

Tesla Cybercab event gains steam ahead of massive launch

The update does not mean every city suddenly has both cars available. Cybercab support is listed for Austin first, and the purpose-built fleet is still small compared with the existing Model Y roster. Even so, the app change marks a shift from a single-vehicle pilot to a mixed fleet.

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Riders can now choose between the compact, purpose-built robotaxi and the familiar SUV that launched the service.

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Tesla Cybercab sightings broaden well outside of Austin with autonomy in focus

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Credit: Tesla Robotaxi | X

Tesla Cybercab sightings are broadening far and wide, well outside of downtown Austin, Texas, with autonomy in focus as the company plans to launch the all-electric, two-seater this evening in the Lone Star State.

Tesla is set to launch Cybercab to a small group of people this evening in a dedicated event in Austin, Texas. Public details on the event are relatively slim.

However, Tesla’s focus on Cybercab falls well outside of the downtown Austin area and is expanding well across the United States as things continue to move quickly with the company’s autonomous efforts in 2026. Today, various images of Cybercab fleets in interesting locations have started to circulate.

The most notable is a fleet of at least 20 Cybercabs at Miami International Airport in Florida. Spotted last night, the fleet is expansive and is indicative of a looming release of Cybercabs once regulatory boxes are checked off.

Tesla has already been operating the Robotaxi platform in Miami for several months, but this Cybercab fleet at the airport could be joining the ride-hailing platform as approvals arrive:

Another fleet of Cybercabs was spotted at the Devon, PA showroom just outside of Philadelphia. We have seen several Cybercab units testing around the Philadelphia Metro Area, which is interesting considering Tesla does not have any active Robotaxi geofence in Pennsylvania.

Philadelphia would be an ideal location to test ride-hailing due to its dense tourist population, large, sprawling city layout, and to compete with other ride-hailing companies that operate in the city.

Expansive fleets of Cybercabs will be popping up in and around major cities throughout the rest of the year, if we were betting on it. Tesla has made it obvious that the Cybercab rollout will be aggressive and fast-paced, but within reason. Tesla is still prioritizing safety, so these testing phases will likely go on for some period of time before more members of the public are able to snag a Cybercab for a personal chariot.

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Tesla Model Y L gets suspension complaints in over odd issue China

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Credit: @TeslaNewswire/X

The Tesla Model Y L is arguably the most hyped trim of the all-electric crossover, other than the Performance configuration that comes with white-knuckle speed and sports car-level handling.

However, it is not all perfect. Tesla owners in China who took delivery of the Model Y L, denoted with an L to highlight its longer wheelbase, are experiencing what they are referring to as “collapsing” of the rear wheels, as suspension issues appear to be an issue with some of the builds.

The gap between the wheel arch and tire has narrowed to the point that “not even a single finger” could fit, according to a report from Car News China. The failures are not tied to a specific mileage, as one owner said that after just 9,000 kilometers (5,600 miles), they noticed the suspension issue when their car was fully loaded.

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Another one had the issue at 30,000 kilometers (18,640 miles) and noticed that the wheel gap shrank to two fingers, so not as drastic as the person who reported a similar issue at 9,000 km.

Tesla Model Y L is gaining momentum in China’s premium segment

Along with the visual recognition of the issue, others are saying the sagging is causing abnormal wear on the inside of the tires. Extra weight and instant torque already provide additional stress on the tires in electric vehicles during normal operation, so it is no surprise that this is another complaint.

There has been no recall issued by Tesla, and the company has not yet publicly acknowledged the issue.

Some are suggesting that owners use a “finger test” to self-diagnose whether there is an issue with the suspension. There should be four fingers between the tire and the wheel well; anything less than that starts to get dicey.

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