Four Tesla stores in Canada each sold an average of 30 cars per hour, amounting to 120 cars per hour across all four locations—essentially one car every minute, 24 hours a day…for three straight days. And yes, this includes hours when the stores were closed.

This extraordinary surge in sales conveniently coincided with Canada’s impending end of its electric vehicle subsidies, and it led to Tesla filing for C$43.1 million (US$30M) in rebates. This sum represents more than half of the remaining C$71.8 million (US$50M) allocated for EV rebates. Naturally, these details have left officials scratching their heads, wondering just how Tesla managed to pull it off.

Read: Trump Tariffs Go Into Effect, Canada Responds With 25% Retaliatory Tariff

Keep in mind that Tesla is struggling when it comes to sales in Canada right now. According to the National Post, deliveries nosedived some 70 percent between December 2024 and January 2025. When the Canadian government announced that it would soon end electric vehicle subsidies, it was expected that Tesla would see a small bump up in sales. However, a giant spike like this is a different ballgame altogether.

In total, it reportedly sold 8,653 cars in three days across four stores in Canada. The sales figures come from Transport Canada, which is the body that accounts for the rebates. According to the The Star, an official from that governmental body openly said “Tesla didn’t sell those cars that weekend.”

The Impact on the Rebate System

While these sales are a win for Elon Musk’s company, they left rival brands without access to the same EV credits. Tesla’s $43.1 million in rebates consumed more than half of the remaining funds for EV subsidies. By the time other dealers attempted to claim their rebates, the money had run out. And there were plenty of them.

According to the Canadian Automobile Dealers Association (CADA), 226 dealerships submitted rebate claims for 2,295 electric vehicles but still haven’t been reimbursed, leaving them collectively out by C$10 million. Additionally, in regions like Quebec, many dealerships are closed on weekends, effectively locking them out of this “sales rush”.

Dealers Left Holding the Bag

Terry Budd, who owns eight dealerships in Canada, was understandably shocked by the news. He told The Star that he hadn’t received any formal notice about the iZEV program’s end, only a warning from CADA that the funds were running low. Budd estimates he’s out $150,000 for rebates he submitted, with another $25,000 for those that were never processed.

“The deal’s done, and we’re shy that money,” Budd said. “Nobody can tell us whether we’re going to be paid or not.” When told that a single Tesla store in Quebec had reportedly sold 4,000 cars over the weekend, Budd couldn’t believe it. “There’s no way they delivered or sold that many cars in a weekend,” he said. “They cleared everyone else out.”

More: Tesla Sales Fall Off A Cliff Globally, Including Germany, Australia, And China

Huw Williams, a spokesperson for CADA, added, “These dealers, in good faith, gave customers the money for a program that is always refunded. They shouldn’t be left making a payment on behalf of the Government of Canada.”

Unlike most other dealerships, Tesla’s Canadian stores are company-owned and directly controlled. This gives Tesla an advantage in navigating rebate claims and the sales process, unlike independent dealerships that run their own operations.

Canadian officials, however, are questioning how Tesla managed to achieve such a feat.

“Tesla had a run on the bank,” said Williams. “Somehow, Tesla gamed the system. What we can’t figure out is how this could have happened without setting off alarm bells.” He even went on to say that it defies logic that Tesla could sell that many cars and that “the registration gaming of this may be inappropriate.”

A Gray Area?

Notably, Transport Canada has stated that there’s no rule against Tesla submitting rebate paperwork in bulk after sold cars are delivered. This could be what happened, but there’s still a lot of uncertainty about the exact details. Maybe more will unfold in the coming weeks—perhaps a few more alarm bells will go off.

In the ever-evolving world of advertising, where companies are constantly trying to outdo each other with the next big thing, Volvo has thrown a curveball in Saudi Arabia for a couple of reasons. First, it doesn’t actually feature a Volvo—or a car of any kind. Before anyone jumps to conclusions and assumes this is a rehash of what Jaguar recently did, hear this: the entire ad is a creation of artificial intelligence. It might even offer a glimpse into what we can expect from future brand campaigns.

Titled “Come Back Stronger,” the video ad is a surreal mix of vague, almost abstract clips. There are close-up shots of people, individuals running in the desert, and other scenes that seem completely unrelated to anything Volvo specifically does. What does tie it all together is the voiceover, which, to be fair, sounds like a car commercial—even if the visuals don’t match.

Read: Even Jaguar’s Designers Weren’t Convinced By Controversial Rebranding, Leaked Letter Claims

Here’s the script:

“They say some dreams are too ambitious but we’ve never believed in limits. Challenges didn’t hold us back, they pushed us forward. Every obstacle, every doubt, shaped us into something stronger because progress isn’t about the past, it’s about what’s possible. And what’s possible is everything. This isn’t just a return, it’s a comeback, and together, we vow to always come back stronger.”

So, what does all that mean when it comes to practical application? Volvo is hoping to sell more cars in Saudi Arabia with its new electrified lineup. That’s the long and the short of the entire ad campaign. Once again, Volvo greenlit this with zero cars in the video.

It’s unclear whether Volvo intentionally chose to leave cars out or if it simply had too much trouble getting the AI to generate a truly accurate Volvo model. According to Adweek, Osama Saddiq, the founder of Lion—the agency behind the ad—said, “This was a tough decision… to tell a deeply human story through the voices of Saudi locals… showing the car would have distracted from the narrative.”

Regardless of intention or execution, it’s clear that AI could soon become a powerful tool in the automotive world. Even Mercedes’ head of design has warned that AI might make designers obsolete within the next decade.

Behind-the-scenes storyboards from Lion show just how the company did the work. In addition, it said that by using AI it cut production time from months down to weeks. For many brands, that alone could be enough of an incentive to start experimenting with AI more frequently in the near future.

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Some electric vehicle owners may be in for an unpleasant surprise when they pull up to charge today only to find their intended station reduced to a charred wreck. That’s the unfortunate situation at the Tesla Supercharger station in Littleton, Massachusetts, where at least seven stalls were torched overnight. Authorities are now investigating the incident as an act of arson.

“Chief Matthew Pinard reports that the Littleton Police Department responded to and is investigating fires at a Tesla charging station at The Point Shopping Center that are believed to be suspicious in nature,” local officials told ABC News. “Responding officers observed that several Tesla charging stations were engulfed in flames and heavy, dark smoke.”

More: Dozen Teslas Torched At French Dealer Causing Over $730,000 In Damages

Authorities have made it clear that they suspect arson. “The Littleton Police and Fire Departments, along with the Massachusetts State Police Fire and Explosion Investigation Unit from the State Fire Marshal’s Office, are investigating and have determined that the fire was likely intentionally set,” they confirmed. This is an important detail, especially since Tesla has provided additional context that aligns with that conclusion.

While fires at electric vehicle or charging stations can happen, they’re extremely rare, and are typically the result of a thermal event caused by a faulty connection between a vehicle and charger. In this case, however, Tesla confirmed that no cars were plugged in at the time. Impressively, the company says the station will be fully operational again in less than 48 hours.

No customers were charging at time of the fire. Posts & wire will be replaced in <48hrs. Critical infrastructure for EV drivers. Arson investigation ongoing with @LittletonMAPD.

— Tesla Charging (@TeslaCharging) March 4, 2025

Interestingly, Tesla does seem to have a fast turnaround when things like this happen. When vandals attacked chargers about a week ago, the team said it would fix the issue within a day and press charges. Perhaps it’ll do the same if police find a suspect for the fires in Massachusetts.

Read: Tesla Store Hit With “Nazi Cars” Graffiti By Would-Be Arsonist

Sadly, this marks the third arson attack in just a week. In Colorado, police caught a suspect with explosives and incendiary devices near a Tesla dealership—though, thankfully, no fires were set. In France, however, things took a darker turn. Police believe someone set fire to at least a dozen cars at a service center overnight on Sunday, including customer vehicles that were there for repairs.

Lead image Littleton Fire Department

If you’re thinking about buying a new car, you might want to hit pause and consider a few things first. A new study from the Anderson Economics Group (AEG) warns that prices are set to skyrocket due to Donald Trump’s 25 percent tariff on imports from Mexico and Canada, which is confirmed to take effect on March 4. And while that alone would be a blow to your wallet, it’s just adding to the chaos already simmering in the automotive industry.

Read: Stellantis Chief Opposes Trump’s Tariffs, Suggests Another Way

The group based its findings on the proposed 25% tariffs against Mexico and Canada and a 10% tariff against China. Using those figures, it predicts that even small crossovers will see at least a $4,000 price increase. Large SUVs with “significant content” from Mexico would go up by roughly $9,000 and trucks would see a similar bump.

Electric Vehicles: The Biggest Losers

Electric vehicles will get hit hardest though. AEG believes they’ll see an increase of $12,000 on average. Combine that with the potential death of EV subsidies and that market could stall for some time. “That kind of cost increase will lead directly — and I expect almost immediately — to a decline in sales of the models that have the biggest trade impacts,” Patrick Anderson, chief executive officer of Anderson Economic Group, told Bloomberg. “You’ll see some model and trim types just disappear,” he said.

So, why are EVs getting hit harder than your standard gas guzzler? It’s all about the materials. “All electric vehicle makers are going to feel the pressure from those [tariffs], because they use way more steel and aluminum than a conventional combustion-engine car,” Marc Busch, professor of international business diplomacy at Georgetown University told CNBC. “So I have no doubt that this will get [Musk’s] attention, and I can imagine that that would be an added political pressure benefit in terms of retaliatory strikes by the European Union, Canada and others.”

Now, Tesla’s situation is interesting. They build their US-sold vehicles in Fremont, California, and Austin, Texas, but the parts? Many are sourced from China, Canada, and Mexico. For example, 15% of the Model Y’s components come from Mexico. They’re already scrambling to avoid a rise in the 25% tariff on Chinese graphite, a key material for lithium-ion batteries.

It’s worth noting that all three of the major US automakers produce vehicles in Mexico, Canada, or both. Ford manufactures the Mustang Mach-E, Bronco Sport, and Maverick in Mexico. Ram trucks are built in both Mexico and the USA, while GM’s Silverado is a product of all three nations involved.

Automakers Already Making Moves

In the meantime, automakers are doing what they can to counter the potential tariffs. Some are having suppliers build up stock. Others are storing parts in strategic locations to avoid getting hit with the tariffs. It’s clear that the automotive industry wasn’t expecting this and isn’t entirely sure what to plan for.

A union representative told Bloomberg that Ford is “racing product over the US-Canada border in anticipation of the tariffs.” In addition, it’s securing warehouse storage so that it can keep all of these parts secure and safe from the potential tariffs.

“We usually store them here (Ontariot, Canada) until we’re ready to send to the truck plants,” D’Agnolo said. “But they’re finding places in the states to store those engines so that they don’t get tariffed.” 

Tick-Tock: Tariffs Set to Hit March 4

With the tariffs set to take effect on March 4, it seems like there’s little time left to avoid the impact. Politico reported that Trump told reporters at the White House earlier today, “There’s no room left for Mexico or for Canada” to negotiate. “They’re all set. They go into effect tomorrow.”

Electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids promise savings on energy costs—and sometimes at the dealership, too. But while federal incentives have helped push adoption, they’re not guaranteed to last forever and might disappear soon. In 2024, many buyers factored these rebates into their purchase decisions, only to find out later that dealership paperwork mistakes left them empty-handed.

It seems as if every year, taxes regarding EVs change to one degree or another. That was certainly the case in 2024 too. Perhaps the biggest change is that buyers could get access to their rebate at the time of purchase. For this to work though, dealers had to enroll in the program and then use a specific portal to report when buyers took advantage of their rebate at the time of sale.

Read: California To Reinstate EV Rebates If Trump Scraps Tax Credit, Just Not For Tesla

According to NPR, however, thousands of dealers failed to meet those guidelines. Those who didn’t enroll still needed to provide buyers with paperwork to obtain their tax rebate at the end of the year. In many cases, the form provided was out of date and, therefore, meaningless.

Kristina Meier, who bought a PHEV minivan last September, says that her dealer provided forms that worked in 2023 but not in 2024. Without the dealer properly submitting the paperwork on time, customers aren’t eligible for the tax rebate, even if they did everything else by the book.

A Slim Chance for a Fix

The deadline for a dealer to submit paperwork to the IRS is just three days after the sale, which means it’s currently impossible for Meier and others like her to claim their tax rebate. However, there’s still a glimmer of hope: the IRS has allowed retroactive submissions in the past.

If the agency does so again, it would allow buyers like Meier to get their tax rebate despite the dealer screwing up on the front end. Whether or not that will happen, however, remains unknown. For now, it’s unclear how many buyers are affected by this issue, but the more people speak up, the better chance there is the IRS might to do something about it. 

On Sunday night, one or more individuals set fire to at least a dozen cars at a Tesla dealership in France, according to a magistrate from the Toulouse public prosecutor’s office. The attack damaged both vehicles for sale and customer cars in for repairs. While the motive remains unclear, it appears to be the latest, and possibly the most serious, incident amid growing tensions surrounding Tesla. Protests targeting the company and its CEO, Elon Musk, have been on the rise in recent months.

Authorities say that they believe this was arson in part because of the fire pattern itself. It appears as though there were at minimum three separate fire origins and that none of the fire damaged the building itself. Of the twelve vehicles bruned, eight were completely destroyed, while four sustained partial damage. The prosecutor’s office called the fire “not at all accidental.”

More: Woman Caught With Explosives After Tesla Dealership Vandalism

According to FranceInfo, damage estimates are hovering around 700,000 Euros or about $735,000 at current exchange rates. Video from the scene shows the extent of the destruction, including cars burned so severely that only their skeletal remains are left.

It appears as though the arsonist targeted a small group of cars including several Model Ys and Model 3s. In another section of the lot we see a Model 3 damaged on the front but in far better shape than some other cars in the lot.

Over the past few months, protests and demonstrations against Tesla and its CEO, Elon Musk, have been ramping up. Weeks ago, protesters projected the word Heil onto the Berlin Gigafactory. Others put up anti-Tesla posters in London, while more demonstrators gathered outside dealerships across the U.S. in the past month.

One person was arrested for attempted but failed arson at a dealership last week. At the same time, it very well appears to be the most dangerous and destructive in nature. While some vandals have targeted charging stations or individual cars, none have gone to this sort of scale.

Tesla and Musk Remain Silent

Despite the growing wave of anti-Tesla actions, both the company and Musk have remained largely silent. Aside from Tesla’s previous statement vowing to prosecute vandals targeting charging stations, there’s been little response. French authorities, meanwhile, have yet to release any information about possible suspects.

More: Tesla Sales Plunge 45% In Norway Even As EV Market Surges By 53%

Consumers, however, seem to be making their stance known with their wallets. Tesla’s sales have taken a significant hit across multiple European markets. In the first two months of 2025, sales dropped 45% in France and Norway, while Sweden saw a 42% decline compared to the same period last year. Denmark was hit even harder, with Tesla’s sales plummeting by 48% in February alone.

Image Google Photos

Rivian is making good on a promise it told Carscoops about several months ago. During a fireside chat in California, the company hinted that unlockable features were on the way. Now, we know that the first of those features, which is extra power, is coming in the 2025.06 update. Later this year, owners of the Large+ battery pack will also get the option to unlock extra range.

More Power for a Price

First and foremost, Rivian says these unlockable features will only be available to second-gen R1 owners. Right now, buyers of these newer EVs can add the Performance Pack to their Dual Motor trim for a cool $5,000. It includes a bump from 533 horsepower (397 kW) and 610 lb-ft (826 Nm) of torque to 665 horsepower (495 kW) and 829 lb-ft (1122 Nm) of torque. Furthermore, it adds two new drive modes, Sport and Soft Sand, to the mix.

Read: EV Crash Claims Jump 38%, And Repairs Are Pricier Than Ever

The automaker will soon make this addition the first available unlock with version 2025.06 of its software. It doesn’t say how much the upgrade will cost within the ecosystem, but it wouldn’t be shocking to see Rivian offer multiple options including a one-time fee, a subscription, or even a trial period of the software.

More Range on the Horizon

That’s likely the same situation buyers who chose the Large+ Battery Pack will face later this year. In a post to his personal X account, Wassym Bensaid said the extra range will be the next unlockable feature after the Performance Pack upgrade is live. Rivian’s Large+ battery pack is the same as its Max pack but software-limited for less range.

Per your feedback, Dual Performance upgrade for your Rivian will be available through OTA.

Coming soon with the 2025.06 update. And you can use Rivian Rewards, too! pic.twitter.com/f3C6xO9Bdp

— Wassym Bensaid (@WassymBensaid) February 28, 2025

Next on the roadmap! 😉

— Wassym Bensaid (@WassymBensaid) March 1, 2025

A Growing Trend in the Industry

Rivian isn’t the first automaker to experiment with paid software unlocks. Tesla and Mercedes have already rolled out similar models, allowing customers to pay for performance boosts or additional features that are technically already built into the car.

In theory, such unlocks allow automakers to streamline production. Building one vehicle with two settings can be cheaper than two separate types. At the same time, some believe that if the car is capable of something, it should be available to the end buyer no matter what.

Where do you stand on the debate? Let us know in the comments.

“Please share 5 things you did for $TSLA shareholders this week.” That’s just the opening line of a pointed message aimed directly at Tesla CEO Elon Musk, and it’s not even the harshest part. With Tesla’s stock value down roughly 23 percent this year, shareholders are understandably frustrated. Now, it seems the unease is spreading beyond just the folks with skin in the game.

Read: ‘Don’t Buy A Swasticar’ Ad Campaign Targets Musk In London

It’s no surprise that shareholders are upset over a massive drop in valuation. But it’s clear from their online responses that they’re aiming to hit Musk where it hurts. Last week, in his role as head of the newly minted Department of Government Efficiency (Doge), he sent an email to federal employees asking them to share five things they’d accomplished at work. Now, shareholders are flipping the script, turning that same question back on him.

The Five-Thing Challenge

On X (formerly Twitter), multiple users responded to Musk or called him out directly with messages like: “Hi @elonmusk can you please tell us 5 things you did last week? 🤔” One user even paired their comment with a screenshot showing Tesla stock down $27.57 or 8.34% at that time during that single day. It’s far from the only one with the same sort of verbiage and media.

Another one read in its entirety, “Please share 5 things you did for $TSLA shareholders this week. Or are you working remotely? Asking for all of us.” This one came with a graph that shows Tesla’s stock price since the start of the year and how it’s down $84.06 per share or 21.55 percent. That last bit about working remotely is itself a dig at Musk as well.

Please share 5 things you did for $TSLA shareholders this week. Or are you working remotely? Asking for all of us. pic.twitter.com/pUCIJBoB6X

— Jerry Avenaim (@avenaim) February 26, 2025

Morality and Remote Work

The Tesla boss has publicly called out those who work remotely several times. He’s gone as far as to actually call working remotely morally wrong. His argument is that several people don’t have the option to work remotely, so nobody should. That hasn’t stopped him from seemingly focusing his efforts more so on the Department of Governmental Efficiency than on Tesla or SpaceX in recent weeks.

Whatever he’s up to, his actions appear to be affecting more than just shareholders. According to The Independent, even Tesla employees are worried about the potential long-term impact on the brand.

Wedbush analyst Dan Ives says that the pressure might become too much too. “Investors have patience but this is starting to tip the scale and it’s weighing on shares along with brand issues related to Musk/Tesla,” he said to Barron’s. “Perception becomes reality on Wall Street.”

Even some celebrities are calling out Musk for his apparent lack of focus on Tesla. Media mogul David Portnoy, for one, took to Twitter to ask, “How far does TSLA stock have to crash before Elon goes back to work?” He’s not alone in wondering whether Musk’s attention might be better spent on Tesla’s challenges than on his other ventures.

With stockholders and analysts openly questioning his priorities, Musk might need more than witty tweets and philosophical debates to turn things around. At this point, Musk might be banking on a dramatic reveal of serious Level 5 self-driving tech to save face later this year.

If I’m gonna be fair these questions needs to be asked today.

Why is the release of the Epstein list always a shit show?

What’s the point of booting out illegals and criminals while somehow becoming a safe haven for the Tate brothers?

Why is Crypto in the toilet if Trump…

— Dave Portnoy (@stoolpresidente) February 27, 2025

Car news has always had its fair share of oddball moments, but over the last few years, much of the weirdness has come courtesy of Elon Musk. No other automotive CEO draws as much attention as he does and lately, it hasn’t been for the reasons he might hope. After several questionable actions by the boss at Tesla, he’s found himself at the center of yet another controversy, this time in the form of an ad campaign that’s got Londoners raising an eyebrow or two. And no, it’s not another SpaceX launch.

This time, it takes the form of what appears to be a well-executed advertising campaign that has gone viral. Located at the Pollard Row bus stop in London, UK, it has been up for only a short time but is already drawing quite a bit of attention

More: Musk Hates Government Spending, Yet Tesla And SpaceX Took Nearly $40B In Taxpayer Funds

“Goes From 0 To 1939 In 3 Seconds,” says the ad, alluding to Musk’s perceived fandom of Nazis and Adolf Hitler. Below the wordmark is a depiction of Musk and his now-infamous gesture at a U.S. political event. A Model X appears too with the words “Tesla The Swasticar,” beneath Musk.

The phrase ‘swasticar’ is becoming more and more common among those who disagree with Musk’s politics. The group taking responsibility for the ad offers merchandise including stickers with the phrase “Don’t Buy A Swasticar” along with another depiction of Musk. It also allegedly sells the poster ad seen in London via PDF on its website, though we couldn’t find it.

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Notably, the stickers and ad aren’t the only actions the campaigners have taken. They’ve also delivered a cardboard cutout of Musk making that gesture to a Tesla dealership and set it up in the lobby. An online GoFundMe campaign for the group aims to raise £10,000 (the current goal), but it’s unclear exactly what for.

“We’ve plastered ‘don’t buy a swasticar’ stickers across hundreds of Teslas in London and taken a cardboard cutout of Elon Musk to a Tesla dealership – prompting customers to tell us to “f**k off” because they’re offended for some reason… We’re planning more – but we need to raise at least £20k to help us fund the actions we have planned. Are you in?”

More: Tesla Sales Crumble 45% In Europe, Even As EV Market Explodes 37%

The group has raised £9,252 from 500 donations so far, toward their £10,000 goal. Of all the protesting organizations out there, this one seems to have more staying power than most. Others appear to be just individuals upset with Musk or small groups making seemingly idle threats. Whether it’s more stickers, more cardboard Musk statues, or just more general mayhem, we’re not sure—but you can bet it’ll be entertaining.

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Image Credit: Everyonehateselon_

For weeks, police in Loveland, Colorado, had been chasing down a suspect after a string of incidents against a Colorado Tesla dealership that seemed like typical, run-of-the-mill vandalism. But as it turns out, the case was far more serious than anyone could have imagined.

Read: Las Vegas Gets First Cybertruck Police Fleet In America

After several calls, multiple vandalism events, and a public plea for help, the authorities finally tracked down the culprit. What started as a few cans of spray paint quickly escalated, culminating in a shocking arrest—complete with explosives and incendiary devices discovered at the scene, at a Tesla dealership.

The First Incident – Paint, Not Explosives

All of this dates back to late January, when police responded to a call about some vandalism at the Tesla dealership on 1606 North Lincoln Ave in Loveland. While they didn’t find a suspect at the time,they did find plenty of evidence that something was amiss. It was just the first of several similar incidents, with more vandalism reported on February 2 and again on February 7.

Turning Point: The Arson Attempt

It’s that second incident in February that was the turning point though. Police report that rather than simply spray-painting “offensive and hateful” messages on cars, the perpetrator also made an attempt at arson in one form or another. According to the Seattle Times, security footage showed someone throwing what appear to be Molotov cocktails into a row of cars. The affidavit revealed that at least four cars, collectively worth $220,000, were targeted by these incendiary devices. The authorities put out a bulletin to the community asking for help in identifying the person responsible.

On February 24, they finally caught a break, apprehending the person they believe is behind it all. Identified as 40-year-old Lucy Nelson, the suspect was found with “additional incendiary devices, along with materials linked to the vandalism,” according to Loveland police. Nelson’s arrest affidavit suggests she may not have acted alone, as surveillance footage shows another individual, with a different build, who is also suspected of involvement.

“These incidents were not only unlawful, dangerous, and unsettling, they also created an atmosphere of discomfort and worry,” Loveland PD Public Information Officer Chris Padgett told CNN. “Those who work at the business, along with those living in the community, have had to deal with such concerns since the first incident on January 29th,” he added.

A Long List of Charges

That said, Nelson is now facing a laundry list of charges, including the use of explosives or incendiary devices during a felony, criminal mischief involving damages between $2,000 and $5,000, and an attempted Class 3 felony. The Larimer County Magistrate has set her bond at $100,000 cash surety.

This is, of course, just one small chapter in the larger, ongoing saga of vandalism and protests tied to Tesla and Elon Musk right now.

Tesla itself has made it clear that they will prosecute anyone who damages their property—specifically, Supercharger stations, which have been a frequent target of vandalism lately. We imagine that Tesla might be willing to go after Nelson with the same tenacity. But for Tesla owners whose cars are damaged in these incidents? Well, you’re pretty much left to pick up the pieces for now.

Throughout most of history, large luxury vehicles had at least one big advantage over, say, sports cars or lesser models: they were quiet inside. That’s typically part of the premium experience. However, according to several Cybertruck owners, Tesla’s latest creation seems to have missed that memo.

One owner took their concern about excessive wind noise to their local Tesla service center, and the proposed solution was surprisingly low-tech: tape. Yes, plain old tape, the same stuff you might use to wrap gifts or patch a torn page, was suggested as the fix for a high-tech, futuristic vehicle.

The customer in question anonymously posted about their experience on a Facebook Cybertruck group. “Is it just my truck?! They said nothing [sic] to do about it. Is that normal? Only from the driver side,” they wrote. Their comment was specifically aimed at the response they got to their request.

Read: Cybertruck Gets Magnetic Wraps That Let You Change Color In Minutes For $2K

In the document from the service center the customer details their complaint. “Wind Noise – I already service this issue and was said this is standard. After driving your loaner, I found that the noise in my car is much stronger then in others.” They had tested another Cybertruck and found it to be noticeably quieter, confirming that the noise wasn’t just a quirk of the model but a specific issue with their vehicle.

This is where the tape comes into play. The tech working on it says in the document that they’ve verified it is a problem. However, due to the “body fitment specifications,” no adjustment to the panels is possible. The tech noted that “the noise heard is normal air turbulence that is expected with higher speed. No further action required at this time.”

The only action they performed is described as “found that taping off the panel gap between driver front fender and frunk reduced the noise.” Does that mean that the frunk is no longer accessible? That wouldn’t be too good. Of course, being that this is a post from an anonymous source, the whole thing could be fabricated, but the comments on the post suggest that it isn’t.

Several Cybertruck owners report the same wind noise issue. “The wind noise on mine is super loud, especially on windy days like yesterday,” said one commentator. “I bought decibel meter. About 50mph sound is 70db. Goes to 73 at 80mph,” said another.

On the other hand, some in the comment section said they didn’t have issues. Still, we’ve documented them in the past here as well. Clearly, not every Cybertruck is within the 10 micron accuracy window Elon Musk once called for.

Notably, wind noise complaints go beyond the Cybertruck when it comes to Tesla. Model 3 and Model Y buyers often complain about similar issues and have even taken to forums to discuss solutions that involve other DIY measures.

It’s worth pointing out that EVs can sometimes exhibit what sounds like excessive wind noise when in reality it’s comparable to what one gets in an everyday ICE car. The difference being that an ICE drivetrain can muffle that wind noise to a degree.

Honestly, I can see where the service technician is coming from here. They have no other way to satisfy the customer and taping panel gaps or transitions is a proven and effective way to eliminate some wind noise. I did it to my very own Ford Flex over some worn-out trim pieces a month ago. It works quite well and is hard to spot when done right. 

In early February, a curious line item appeared on the State Department’s largest contract of 2025: “Armored Tesla (Production Units)” with a staggering price tag of $400,000,000. The entry showed up on an official procurement document, sparking immediate denials from the Trump administration, which insisted that the deal originated under Biden. But now, newly surfaced evidence suggests that might not be entirely accurate.

According to a report from NPR, which says it obtained a new document from the State Department, the budget breakdown for the 2025 fiscal year tells a different story. It shows just $483,000 allocated for electric vehicles, along with an additional $3 million designated for support equipment like chargers, for a total of nearly $3.5 million. No mention of hundreds of millions for armored Teslas.

More: Cybertruck Crushes Safety Tests With 5-Star Rating (Updated)

NPR says it also spoke to a former White House official who believes the Trump administration did intend to buy $400 million worth of Teslas. “I don’t think this is a clerical error. It was likely someone who is new in [the] State [Department] who decided, ‘OK, we’re gonna do this with Tesla,'” they said on the condition of anonymity.

Interestingly, a spokesperson for the State Department told NPR on Monday that the $400 million was “an estimate” and that “the Department of State has no intention to move forward with the solicitation.” They also pointed out that the proposal was in its early stages and was not yet a full contract but was meant “strictly to gather information.”

For his part, Elon Musk also claims to know nothing about this deal so it’s plausible the truth is in the middle.

I’m pretty sure Tesla isn’t getting $400M. No one mentioned it to me, at least.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 13, 2025

Perhaps someone in the Trump administration genuinely believed Tesla was the best choice for armored vehicles, and the plan was quietly dropped after public scrutiny. Or maybe the budget line was just an ambitious placeholder. Either way, the deal seems to be off the table for now—but given the rapid twists in this saga, that could change at any moment.

For what it’s worth, the document submitted to the White House from the State Department listed several concerns about converting an EV to an armored personnel carrier. Beyond just protecting the battery to the point that assailants couldn’t pierce or damage it, the department wrote “finding an electric vehicle that can hold the weight of armor and have viable range for protection driving are other initial challenges.”

For now, it seems the State Department’s armored Tesla fleet is on ice. But as the political narrative continues to shift, this story might not be over.

“We will press charges for vandalism at Superchargers,” says Tesla. Those are the first words from an automaker dealing with a spate of issues including protests, property damage, and more. What’s worse is that the brand can’t do anything for countless owners who have also suffered from the trend. That includes at least one Cybertruck defaced in Lower Manhattan with a swastika.

The last few months have seen the ire grow against Elon Musk and the electric brand he helms. Both customers and critics have open—and loudly—called for the public to ditch Tesla’s cars. On top of that, radical activists have threatened owners and vandalized vehicles as well as Supercharger stations. On Sunday, one Tesla owner found their local charging station with the word “Nazi” painted over the Tesla logo and a Swastika symbol at the bottom.

Read: TikTokers Are Hunting Cybertrucks With Anti-Musk Messages

“This graffiti at my local Supercharger would suggest that perhaps Elon Musk is damaging Tesla’s brand,” the poster wrote. Within just three hours, the official Tesla Supercharger account saw the post and responded, stating that the graffiti would be removed by the next morning. In fact, it went even further.

When another commenter pointed out a security camera that might have captured the vandal in the act, Tesla made it clear that it would press charges for such behavior. In fact, this was the second instance of vandalism it responded to within the past week. In another case, someone sprayed foam into the charging plugs at several Supercharger stations.

This graffiti at my local Supercharger would suggest that perhaps Elon Musk is damaging Tesla’s brand. pic.twitter.com/LLL5AcDeOE

— Quinn Nelson (@SnazzyLabs) February 23, 2025

Targeting More Than Just Tesla Property

There’s a separate issue, though, as vandals aren’t only targeting Tesla property but private vehicles too. It’s unclear who owns the Cybertruck recently painted with a swastika in Lower Manhattan, but many people saw the vehicle and posted about it online. One person simply captioned their post, “Not a great car to own in NYC these days.”

More: We Compare The 2026 Tesla Model Y Side-By-Side With Its Predecessor

The threads about the angular pickup drew a mix of grim humor and political commentary including “Look, it’s the new SS package,” and “it draws the eyes away from the panel gaps.”

The humor was dark, but the implications were serious. No matter how one might feel about Musk or Tesla, it does appear that the groundswell of anger toward one or both is increasing. A recent poll made it clear that Musk’s popularity has swung wildly from one side of the aisle to the other over the last year. While Musk and Tesla could be well within their rights, there is little doubt at this point that public perception is shifting.

The Musk Effect on Tesla’s Brand

Since being brought on board Donald Trump’s administration as a Senior Advisor for the Department of Governmental Efficiency (DOGE), Musk has become an increasingly polarizing figure. His controversial statements, perceived ties to far-right ideologies, and alleged dog-whistle moments have fueled strong reactions which cause some critics to argue that Tesla’s brand is suffering not because of its cars but because of its CEO. 

The Cybertruck defacement and Supercharger vandalism highlight the volatile intersection of technology, politics, and public perception. With Musk at the helm, Tesla isn’t just an EV company – it’s a symbol in an increasingly divided conversation. One thing is clear though: the discourse around Tesla and Musk doesn’t look to be cooling down anytime soon.

View on Threads

In a sweeping policy shift, Donald Trump’s administration has just reportedly ordered the shutdown of all electric vehicle charging stations at federal buildings across the United States. This decision effectively flips the switch on hundreds of EV chargers across the country, with approximately 8,000 charging ports, managed by the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA).

This directive also includes plans to offload recently acquired EVs from the federal fleet. Combined, these moves signal a sharp reversal from the sustainability initiatives championed by the previous administration.

Read: Trump’s Budget Cuts Threaten Biden’s $6.6B Rivian Loan For EV Factory

An internal GSA email, reportedly viewed by Colorado Public Radio, reveals that the agency now deems all GSA-owned charging stations as “not mission critical.” As a result, the agency will shut down these chargers at which point they’ll be inoperable to all users.

This includes both federal workers with a federally owned EV and federal employees who could previously charge their own personal vehicle at these same stations. Some regional offices have already begun taking chargers offline, with a formal announcement expected soon.

The GSA is responsible for managing federal assets including a fleet of approximately 650,000 vehicles. Under the Biden administration, it embarked on a plan to transition to zero-emission vehicles. That included the procurement of over 58,000 EVs and the installation of more than 25,000 charging ports. It never came anywhere close to achieving those figures though and this new directive puts that plan to a swift end.

The GSA is preparing to offload the EVs it currently has in the fleet but it’s unclear where they’ll go. Technically, it could simply take the vehicles out of the fleet and put them into storage rather than sell them. In addition, the GSA manages some chargers for separate federal agencies so those departments might need to ditch their EVs.

It’s also uncertain how the agency will replace the vehicles being phased out; possibilities include purchasing new gas-powered models or reallocating older ones from retirement.

This development follows Trump’s recent suspension of the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program, a $5 billion initiative aimed at expanding the nation’s EV charging network. Taken together, these decisions could slow the overall adoption rate of electric vehicles in the US as a whole. One thing is for sure, it certainly won’t speed it up.

Tesla has been keeping busy over the past year, updating its two best-selling vehicles, the Model 3 sedan and Model Y crossover, while also launching the much-anticipated Cybertruck and teasing upcoming products like the Cybercab.

Now, the company appears poised to continue this momentum with updates to its longest-running models, the Model S and Model X, which have been in production since 2012 and 2015, respectively. This hint came from none other than Tesla’s VP of Engineering, Lars Moravy.

Speaking on Ryan McCaffrey’s Ride the Lightning podcast, Moravy said, “Just give it a minute. We’ll get there. The upgrade a few years ago was bigger than most people thought in terms of architecture and structure. We’ll give it some love later this year; we’ll make sure it gets some of the stuff we’ve been putting in 3 and Y. Everyone here has a little place in their heart for S/X. They are not going anywhere anytime soon.”

Read: We Compare The 2026 Tesla Model Y Side-By-Side With Its Predecessor

This sparked speculation online that a full update to both models might be on the horizon. To a degree, Tesla would do well to refresh the vehicles to look more like the rest of the lineup. Despite that, Moravy’s words on the Ride the Lightning podcast seem very measured. “Some of the stuff we’ve been putting in 3 and Y” could simply refer to features like ambient lighting and a front-facing bumper-mounted camera, , rather than a complete overhaul.

Many are hoping that Tesla will go beyond minor updates and deliver a more significant styling refresh, as both models clearly show their age. The Model S and Model X have maintained largely the same exterior design for years, and a visual update could help them stay competitive.

The possibility of upcoming updates raises the question of how this news might impact current sales. After all, Tesla made just 94,105 Cybertrucks, Model X, and Model S examples last year combined. That sounds like a big number but is dwarfed by the 1,679,338 examples of the Model Y and Model 3 built in the same period.

Should You Wait to Buy?

While nothing is confirmed, Moravy’s comments suggest that changes are indeed coming. For those considering a Model S or Model X, it might be worth waiting to see what Tesla announces later this year. If the updates are substantial, the wait could be well worth it.

Very few automakers sit in the same position as Rivian. Smaller EV startups hope to be as successful as the Normal, Illinois-based company someday. On the other hand, larger brands don’t have to worry too much about Rivian stealing their customers just yet. In 2024, the EV automaker sold just over 51,000 cars in a market that included well over a million total sales. 

For Rivian to continue gaining market share, this vehicle, the R1S has to continue to convert customers from other brands. Externally, this middle-size SUV stands out just as much as its parent company does. The shape isn’t wholly boxy or completely square. The headlights are a clear and direct reminder that this isn’t something from Ford, Chevy, Chrysler, or even Tesla. 

Review: 2025 Land Rover 110 Defender Is A Go-Anywhere Luxury SUV

What it is, though, is a well-equipped SUV regardless of the trim one might pick. In fact, it’s one of the most configurable, most capable, and most eclectic SUVs this side of a super-luxury six-figure brand like Rolls-Royce, Bentley, or Maybach. 

QUICK FACTS

To get a real sense of just how good Rivian’s flagship SUV truly is, we put it through its paces in the unforgiving streets of New York City and across the varied terrain of western New York State. Along the way, we uncovered both strengths and shortcomings—because no vehicle is without flaws—but overall, the R1S stands as a promising glimpse into the future of electric SUVs.

YMMV

For those unfamiliar, YMMV is the cool, hip shorthand for “Your Mileage May Vary” – and trust me, it certainly did in the Rivian R1S. One of this SUV’s biggest selling points is its claim of up to 410 miles of range when buyers opt for the Max Pack and Dual Motor setup. In reality? Let’s just say that number is more of a best-case scenario than a guarantee.

“Up to” are incredibly crucial words here, as we never even came close to hitting that figure on a single charge. Whether you blame it on a heavier right foot that the R1S probably wasn’t too fond of, or the fact that New York’s temperatures barely crept above freezing, the truth is we couldn’t count on getting anywhere near the miles the R1S predicted.

For example, in one trip that would take us 91 minutes and 59 miles according to Rivian’s in-car navigation, the R1S estimated we’d arrive at our destination with 144 miles of range. That’s all well and good, but according to the exact same screen at the exact same time, we had 213 miles of range available – so where are those extra miles going? 

Consistently Inconsistent Range

That sort of behavior was very consistent. In another case, we left a charging station with 350 miles of estimated range to go to a destination just 39 miles away. I might have gone to school in Mississippi but even I can do the simple math on that one. We should’ve, in theory, had 311 miles remaining when we arrived. Instead, the R1S told us to expect to reach our destination with 274 miles of range remaining. 

Despite this discrepancy, I’ll also make it clear that at no point did I have range anxiety or worry about charging despite not staying anywhere close to a charging station. In fact, I made it to my destination with 296 miles of range. That hasn’t always been my experience with electric SUVs either. Nevertheless, the R1S and R1T both have access to Tesla’s Supercharger network which makes charging up all over New York an absolute breeze. 

In addition, Rivian’s own Adventure network wasn’t far off either and provided a great experience. Simply plug the charger into the car, confirm that the charge started, and walk away. There wasn’t any need to pull out a payment card, download some silly charging station app, or anything else. In reality, it was easier than pumping gas. Across all trips, we managed 2.67 kWh per mile, which is well within reason given the variables at play. 

The Charging Experience

Charging itself was a bit of a mixed bag though. On the plus side, the R1S accepts up to 300 kW of charging speed, which meant I never needed to stay plugged in for hours at a time. In most cases, simply plugging it in for 30 minutes would be enough to pull the battery up to 80 percent or more. In one instance, the car went from 26 to 80 percent in 37 minutes on a Tesla Supercharger that had basically every other stall filled. 

That charging excursion cost $46.06 by the way, which isn’t great compared to a gas car, but had we had the chance to charge at home it wouldn’t have even been close. The electric Rivian would’ve been colossally cheaper to run day in and day out and I would’ve never even needed to hit a public charging stall. 

Speaking of stalls, that’s another concern that Rivian owners should consider. Charging at a Supercharger is easy and convenient aside from the physical position of the Rivian itself. Because the charge port is on the front driver’s side, the only way to avoid taking up an extra charging space is to park on the far left side of the row of chargers. 

In any other space (save for some very creative parking on the far right side) you’ll take up an extra charging space. That can be uncomfortable when several drivers are waiting to use a charger for their EVs and you and your six-figure SUV have essentially iced one out til you’re done. 

Interior Segment

While the cabin of a car is often just a place for spending time while occupied with the journey itself, the Rivain also has to house folks while they sit idling at a charger. To that end, the R1S is beautifully appointed with excellent attention to detail. As just one clear example, Rivian has possibly the most luxurious third row in the business when it comes to fit and finish. We’re getting a little ahead (or perhaps behind) ourselves though. 

The dash is what most buyers will appreciate first. The real wood accents are a significant step above what you’ll find in a Tesla Model X, for example. The design is simple, elegant, and somewhat monolithic. It’s deeply consistent throughout the car too, which is somewhat rare. The huge panoramic glass roof makes the entire SUV feel more spacious even though it’s actually somewhat compact inside. 

Seating in the R1S is comfortable, though not as adjustable as one might expect from a car in this price range. That said, it was great that we could move the middle row forward or back based on how many people were in the car at any given time. 

Clever little touches like storage hooks, straps, and nets made carrying various items a breeze for everyone in attendance. The rear-seat infotainment system provides excellent functionality including heating for both the second and third-row seats, Bluetooth connectivity, lock functions, and a trip calculator so one’s passengers don’t have to ask how long it’ll be til we all arrive at our destination. 

Finally, let’s chat about cargo because the R1S can hold so very much of it. On our excursion, we had five adults with at least two bags per adult, and all of them fit in the cabin along with all of the people without the need for us to stuff things in the front trunk. 

Had we placed everything up front, it likely would’ve left us with essentially the entire cabin wide open. I hope we get a chance to test the new Quad Motor out in the middle of nowhere soon where I promise to take full advantage of all that storage. 

Cabin Controls: Rivian’s Biggest Misstep

This might be the biggest gripe of the entire Rivian experience. The brand is dedicated to minimizing physical controls wherever it can. We asked them about their choices, including the one to not have physical climate controls, and they basically told us they didn’t want to hem themselves in with choices they could go back on. 

For better or worse, this means that many functions are baked into the screen including the door lock and unlock mechanism, the heated seats, climate fan speed, and more. Changing the direction of airflow is a touchscreen setting. Moving the steering wheel requires hitting multiple buttons on the screen and then using the steering wheel rollers to position it. The same is true of the mirrors. 

Speaking of that, the few buttons and switches that do exist aren’t all that great either. In fact, the switchgear feels cheap when compared to the rest of the cabin. The window switches also sit inside a big slab of plastic that isn’t very attractive. It seems odd that in these places where hands, wrists, and fingertips will interact often the surfaces and materials aren’t as high-end as the rest of the cabin. 

Then, there’s the infotainment itself, which is a mixed bag. The graphics are crisp, bright, and even fun at times. The reactions are swift and some of the features are intuitively placed. On the flip side, there isn’t a way to leverage Android Auto or Apple CarPlay. 

Bluetooth connectivity somewhat saves the day but the navigation system leaves one wanting for something a little smoother and a bit more polished. Picking a destination isn’t always easy to manage when the choices are a bit vague and changing or adding a direction mid-journey can be tough too. All of that said, it’s a solid system that we expect will only improve with time. 

Headlights: The R1S’s Secret Weapon

An entire section on headlights might sound odd but these are the very best I’ve ever used bar none. The gap between these headlights and the next best ones in my personal experience is so big that I can’t even remember who sits in second place. The R1S is the first car in the USA to use Adaptive Drive Beam technology and it deserves even more praise than I’m about to give it.

Known by many as Matrix LED lights, the headlight tech in the R1S enables almost fluid-like real-time adjustment based on traffic. For example, most of us have experienced the automatic bright light setting on modern cars. Once engaged (and that’s an important point we’ll return to), it basically scans the road at all times and then flips the brights off if it notices an oncoming car or that you’ve caught up to a car in the same lane but ahead of you.

Those automatic high beams are akin to a caveman when compared to the R1S’s Einstein-like lighting situation. Instead of just flipping full on or full off, the car can selectively turn off LED elements in the headlight to avoid blinding surrounding traffic. That’s right, it works in both directions too so when you come up behind someone the lights carve out a perfect little box for them so that you don’t blind that driver. The entire rest of the field of view remains lit up with high-beam light.

Even more impressive, when the driver is oncoming, the light dynamically carves out a space and moves that space as the driver gets closer and ultimately passes the R1S. Essentially, these headlights provide the absolute most light possible and never blind drivers around you. Maybe the best part though is that you don’t have to turn them on, as they are completely automatic.

Suffice to say, I hope more automakers adopt this technology as quickly as possible. Being able to see is clearly a paramount safety feature and these headlights make it easy.

Driving Experience: Power Meets Weight

Having driven several electric vehicles over the years, I had a good idea of what to expect from 665 horsepower (495 kW) and 829 lb-ft (1,122 Nm) of torque. What I didn’t appreciate before stomping on the go pedal in the R1S is just how adept this SUV is at doing sporty things despite its weight. Remember from our quick facts sheet that this three-row people hauler tips the scales at 6,331 pounds (2,871 kg). 

That 665 horsepower is there just as much for just moving a beast this big as it is for performance, but it happily manages both. From a dig, the R1S feels a bit heavy off the line but it gathers speed at such a rapid pace that how heavy this thing is plays a role in making the experience feel all the more exotic. 

In just 3.4 seconds you’ll go from not moving at all to hurtling down a road at 60 mph in something that weighs 1000+ pounds more than an adult male white rhinoceros. It’s like an unholy combination of a rhino and a cheetah and you’re at the helm – but that’s just the party trick. 

It’s the rest of the driving experience that provides the clearest look at the depth and breadth of what Rivian has done here. For one thing, the R1S certainly doesn’t handle like I’d expect a rhino to. On the highway, it is calm, quiet, and serene. The adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist are accurate and smooth. The one-pedal driving mode takes a little getting used to, especially when traffic speeds are inconsistent, but it works great in predictable scenarios. 

When needed, the brakes are strong and resilient. The steering is good too, with easy to perceive limits and clear communication without excessive vibration from the front tires. The two main areas of complaint in the R1S come down to the way it feels on occasion. Poorly maintained roads can cause a great deal more ride harshness than in any other six-figure SUV I’ve ever driven. Some of that is likely due to the gigantic 22-inch wheels and some could be related to the extremely heavy curb weight. 

The other noticeable niggle was the aggressive nature of initial regenerative braking. Put simply, it’s harder than most of my passengers preferred. In inconsistent traffic, it actually made a couple of folks nauseous. Sure, it’s possible to reduce the force of regen braking in the R1S, but that means less range so you’ll have to make a trade-off one way or another. At the same time, it’s possible that having only a week to truly learn the system’s behavior wasn’t enough to get really adept at its use and that more time would’ve resulted in a smoother experience for everyone onboard. 

Competition

When the R1S first arrived on the scene it was basically only rivaled by the Tesla Model X which is faster and better to drive on the road. Where Rivian beat the Tesla was off-road and in terms of overall range. Today, the Model X is the one trying to keep up as Rivian is set to launch a Quad Motor R1S this year that’ll likely smoke the Tesla on the road and continue its dominance when the pavement runs out. 

Where the Rivian is going to struggle most though is against new competition from Kia, Hyundai, Volvo, and BMW. For example, the Kia EV9 offers more interior space, tons of technology, and a much lower base price. Sure, it misses out on the power and luxury features of the Rivian, but saving tens of thousands of dollars is enough for many buyers to overlook that. 

The Ioniq 9 might just be the perfect blend since it leverages more luxury appointments. The BMW iX could be a good option too thanks to its supremely good on-road manners. Of course, none of these competitors offer the off-road chops of the Rivian and that’s a key selling feature that the brand leans on. 

Those who value supreme off-road capability over all else might be willing to cross-shop the GMC Hummer EV SUV since it has a similar price tag and even more impressive overlanding features. The Rivian is still the more practical choice between the two for now. 

Final Thoughts

It’s hard not to like the Rivian R1S after spending time in. Note that I didn’t say love, though. It is expensive and that feels like a very important aspect of it when considering how it sometimes rides rough and that other three-row electric SUVs offer much of the same experience for far less cash.

Nevertheless, technology often trickles downhill over time and that’s what makes the R1S so exciting. No other electric SUV on sale at this price point offers the mix of capabilities that this one does. It’s very comfortable in most circumstances. It handles well. It’s full of useful features. It’s sincerely good off-road. The cabin feels very high-end. And it has more than enough range for the average everyday user. No, it’s not perfect, but the issues it comes with are mostly those associated with production by a relatively new manufacturer. 

Give Rivian time to continue honing its craft, find new economies of scale it can pass on to the customer, and improve a few dynamics. If it does all that, there’s little doubt that it’ll be a major player in this space and one for other companies to continue to mimic in the years to come. 

Image Credit: Stephen Rivers / Rivian

GMC Hummer EV owners aren’t choosing it because it’s the best truck or EV on the market. They’re buying it for the fun factor. But that fun quickly fades when the vehicle doesn’t work properly. That’s where the manufacturer’s warranty is supposed to step in—and for a while, it did, covering Dustan Broom and his SoFlo Customs-modified electric Hummer. But then GM pulled the plug and canceled his warranty altogether.

More: GM Voids Warranty On Custom SoFlo GMC Hummer EV

After our initial coverage, Carscoops obtained documents from the owner showing that GM had actually honored the warranty for some time, even with SoFlo’s modifications. So what changed? Many questions still remain.

A Rough Start with Recurring Issues

Broom picked up his Hummer EV from SoFlo in April of last year. Almost immediately, he had issues with the My Modes settings and with the power tonneau cover. Hoping to sort that out, he took the pickup to the dealer for service. On his first visit in July, employees documented in his paperwork that they ordered new parts to fix his tonneau cover. However, they claimed they couldn’t replicate the issues with My Modes. So Broom waited. And waited.

More: Toyota Denies Warranty For GR Corolla Fire, Claims Tires Rated Below 85 MPH

Months went by according to Broom and then finally, in December, his MyModes replacement component arrived at the dealer. As part of the job, the service team said they’d need the truck for a few weeks as the high-voltage battery had to come out. When Dustan picked up his truck, “Nothing was fixed,” he tells Carscoops. In fact, he claims the My Modes functionality, which would occasionally work before, has been dead ever since this incident.

A Smoldering Problem

However, even if the suspension modes weren’t working, Broom was also supposed to have his power tonneau cover fixed. That issue wasn’t unique to him either. It was part of a service update “N232434060”, which includes swapping out the power tonneau cover motor as needed. Less than a month after the truck left the shop, things reportedly went from bad to smoky.

Broom reports that on December 5, his cover malfunctioned and made a loud popping sound. After going inside to research how he might remedy the issue, he came back out to find the cover smoking while the GMC sat in his garage. “I flipped out. Called a few dealerships no one was of help, one told me to drive it into the road so I didn’t burn my house down. I was able to unlock the cover, setting the top piece free which, thankfully seemed to stop the burning,” he says.

Less than two months later, Broom returned to the dealership to finally have the tonneau cover repaired under the same service update. Apparently, the necessary parts hadn’t been ordered back in July as originally promised, only after the near-fire incident. Ten days after dropping off the Hummer EV for the repair, Broom got a call that would kick off this entire ordeal.

Warranty Revoked—With No Explanation

According to Broom, the service manager informed him that while his tonneau cover had been fixed, GM had decided to void his entire vehicle warranty due to the modifications done by SoFlo Customs.

More: GM Penalizes Corvette, Hummer, And Escalade V Flippers By Cancelling Warranty

“I was told today GM did NOT perform any technical analysis of the truck, they STILL do not know what the problem is but claim because my truck ‘looks’ the way it does the entire warranty is void and they refuse to fix the service light issues and the My Modes issues, not to mention the lost value of the truck having a 100% voided warranty,” he says.

Documents shared with Carscoops indicate that GM specifically voided the warranty because it blames SoFlo for the My Modes issues. Across several work order items, the dealer writes “NO WORK DONE NEEDS TO GO BACK TO THE SHOP WHERE MODIFICATIONS WERE DONE.” That said, we’ve reached out to SoFlo several times and haven’t received any response. The same is true of General Motors who seemingly approved warranty work and then changed its mind after doing it for some time on this Hummer EV.

What’s Behind the Warranty Cancellation?

It’s possible that GM has a valid reason for the denial, but the lack of transparency makes it difficult to say for sure. Did the modifications contribute to the issue in question, or is GM applying its policy inconsistently? That’s the real debate here.

The Wrinkles Abound

There are two key aspects of this story that still leave lingering questions. First, Broom tells Carscoops that the service manager attributed the warranty cancellation to his bent ride height connecting rods. These aftermarket rods allow for adjustment of the factory ride height but do not alter the core functionality of the air ride system. One online retailer describes them as a simple modification that retains factory performance while enabling slight height adjustments.

Beyond that, Broom has other concerns. He suspects GM may be using the modifications as a convenient excuse to sidestep corporate liability. Specifically, he wonders if the tonneau fire is playing a larger role in this situation than the modifications themselves, with GM leveraging the aftermarket work as justification to deny coverage and avoid potential legal complications. Without responses from either GM or SoFlo, the situation remains murky, leaving only customer testimony and dealer documentation to piece together the puzzle.

More: Hyundai Denies $10K Warranty Repair For Elantra N, Blames Owner For Over-Revving

Perhaps the biggest takeaway is that buyers of modified vehicles, especially high-tech EVs, should tread carefully. Factory warranties can be a gray area when aftermarket work is involved, and as this case shows, what’s covered today might not be tomorrow if someone other than an authorized dealer gets their hands on the vehicle.

Image Credits: Dustan Broom, Suspension Superstore, SoFlo Customs

A “long-time Rivian customer close to giving up” is how the owner at the center of this story describes themselves. And honestly, no one wants to feel that way after purchasing a car, especially not a luxury vehicle that starts at $70,000 and can easily climb past $100,000. Yet, that’s the reality for this particular customer after multiple purchases from Rivian. Here’s their story – and it’s certainly one worth telling.

Online forums are often filled with all sorts of commentary, but it’s rare to see someone write more than 1,600 words about their personal experience. Nevertheless, that’s exactly what a user named PortDirect recently did on RivianForums. Their post, partially titled “Why am I doing this to myself,” is still generating reactions more than 10 days after it was posted.

Read: Guess How Much It Costs To Repair This Rivian R1T

In the thread, they detail their experience as a buyer starting out with the purchase of an R1T pickup truck. “It was almost perfect except for one glaring issue: a paint defect spotted the moment I picked it up from the factory in Normal, IL. I nearly rejected delivery, but given the train ride out there (and Rivian’s assurance it would be a simple fix I could handle later), I went ahead and drove it home. That ‘simple fix’ turned into a months-long nightmare,” the owner admits.

Problems Just Kept Popping Up

In mid-2024, they dropped off the truck for paint correction. Initially, the shop said it would repaint the entire panel. The next month, when they called the customer, it was not because the truck was ready but because it fell off of the lift. While the shop said it would fix the damage, other issues kept popping up.

“The collision center called daily for almost a week with odd reports – a minor scratch during reassembly, waiting on parts, repainting and ‘baking for 48 hours. The whole thing felt unsettling and far from the simple fix Rivian had promised,” they wrote, and frankly, who could blame them? Things didn’t get better from there.

When the owner went to pick up the truck, they reportedly found the bed dirty, as though it had been used for work during its time at the shop. The camera that shows the bed no longer worked and every time they’d take the truck back in for a fix, something else would go wrong. Less than three months after the paint correction, it began to wrinkle and crack.

More: Rivian R1S Bricked After Minor Parking Garage Bump

The owner gave Rivian another chance, this time sending the truck to a different body shop. However, when that didn’t go well either, the automaker agreed to buy the truck back and offered a $10,000 goodwill credit toward the purchase of another R1T. But, as you might guess, the story doesn’t end there.

Second R1T Wasn’t A Charm Either

The new R1T, a second-generation model, arrived to the customer on December 13 of last year. They say “Rivian promised a “press-level” inspection – essentially the same scrutiny they’d give a vehicle destined for a big-name automotive review – which actually pushed our delivery back by over a week to ‘give them time to get it perfect’. I was hopeful, but that optimism vanished almost immediately.”

Evidently, the Gear Tunnel door fell off when the customer’s wife opened it. Then, the entire truck was stuck at 4 mph because it thought the Gear Tunnel door needed servicing. It took 30 minutes of service before the owner could drive the truck properly.

Issues, Issues And More Issues

Since then, they’ve had issues with the windows, the steering wheel, rattles from the doors, misaligned doors that were actually chipping the paint, camera issues, inconsistent braking, and software problems that require regular resets to function properly. Now, the owner says “I’m tired of feeling like a perpetual beta tester for build consistency and service quality.” What they do with their second-gen R1T is still something they’re figuring out.

Comments From The Community

What’s wild is just how many people in the Rivian community have popped up to empathize with this customer. “It took 10 months to resolve my issues, after going back and forth and scheduling appointments and what not. 60 days without my R1T. Can’t lemon law in AZ on a lease (I plan to buy out at the end of the lease assuming everything’s good),” said one viewer.

“Feel for you going through it multiple times. Mine is down too with suspension hydraulic line leaking and the earliest appointment is 2 months out. They say it’s drivable so no rush, I don’t agree it’s safe to drive so will sit in the driveway for the time being,” they wrote.

Related: A Rivian R1S Started Smoking As Driver Was ‘Trapped’ Inside, Couldn’t Open Doors

“The irony here is my EV is leaking oil with a drip pan below it and my ICE cars aren’t. They really need to fix service ASAP, waiting months for serious problems is nuts,” said another user.

None of this is to say that Rivian is a bad brand or that it isn’t doing all it can to improve its products. In fact, this same customer points out that part of why they’re sticking with the brand is that they have an R1S that is “a rock star.” It apparently “runs flawlessly.” No doubt, having that positive experience can temper the negative ones to a degree.

The reality though is that startup brands like Rivian—and many of the other EV companies cropping up left and right—don’t have the established network or track record of legacy brands. While buyers might want to get into something new and hip, accepting that you essentially sign up to become a beta tester can come with the territory – even if you’re not aware of it at first. As is the case with any large purchase, going into it with eyes wide open is paramount. 

R2 And R3 Implications

Being wide-eyed is going to be even more key for more buyers in the near future as Rivian launches the R2 and R3 platforms. The reason is that these cars are meant to be significantly more affordable, available to way more people, and ultimately end up in far more garages and households nationwide.

That sounds great for Rivian and its stock price, but how will it handle the increased need for service that will inevitably come with more cars on the road? To keep up, quality assurance at the factory will need to be tight enough that service calls for production-related issues are few and far between. Additionally, Rivian (and other brands in a similar position) will need to consider how differently their customers use their cars.

Ask Me Anything: We’re Testing the 2025 Rivian R1S, Got Questions?

R1S and R1T buyers likely have more than one extra car to drive around if their Rivian is out of commission. R2 and R3 buyers aren’t as likely to have that luxury. As one forum commenter put it: “My T is my only vehicle, so I knew from the beginning if I ended up in one the cycles of pain like yours that I read about occasionally, I would be forced to bail on Rivian regardless of how big a fan I am.”

As Rivian looks to expand its reach, the question remains: can it juggle growing demand with quality service and consistent production? Only time—and, likely, more forum posts—will tell.

Just over a month after debuting the 2026 Model Y, Tesla has rolled out the standard range of the facelifted electric crossover in Europe. This marks the end of the short-lived Launch Series Model Y, which spent just six weeks on the European market. Now, buyers can choose from three standard trim levels and customize features to their liking. As one of the biggest parts of Tesla’s success, the Model Y and this launch are very important.

Codenamed “Juniper,” the refreshed Model Y brings several upgrades, including improved efficiency, a redesigned interior, updated suspension tuning, and a refreshed exterior look. It first went on sale globally, including in the US, in early January as a fully loaded Launch Edition based on the Long Range AWD version.

More: 2026 Tesla Model Y Debuts With Cybercab Looks And Turn Signal Stalks

This limited edition Model Y came with nearly every available option box ticked, from the $8,000 Full Self-Driving (Supervised) package to all the exterior and interior color choices. While it’s still offered in the States, the Launch Edition is no longer available in Europe, where Tesla has introduced the standard versions—minus the Performance model, which has yet to be released.

Three Models to Choose From

European customers now have three trim options. The entry-level Model Y RWD (rear-wheel drive) is priced at €44,990 (about $46,980), the same as the previous version. Interestingly, the Long Range RWD model costs €49,990 ($52,300), which is €1,000 ($1,050) more than its predecessor. Meanwhile, the Long Range AWD version is priced at €52,990 ($55,450), making it €2,000 ($2,100) cheaper than the earlier version. Could we see a similar price drop in the States? It’s hard to say, but it’s certainly an encouraging sign.

More: Tesla Recalls 380,000 Cars After Some Drivers Reported Total Loss Of Steering Assist

Pearl White is the only color offered at no additional cost, while other colors start at €1,300 ($1,360). The premium shades Ultra Red and Quicksilver are priced at double that amount. All trims come standard with 19-inch wheels, but 20-inch wheels are available for the Long Range models at an additional cost of €2,200 ($2,300).

Basic Autopilot is standard but Enhanced Autopilot costs €3,800 while “Full potential for autonomous driving”, what Tesla calls Full Self-Driving (Supervised) in the USA, costs €7,500 ($7,850). Those interested in picking up one of these updated Model Ys can expect delivery sometime in May or June according to Tesla. 

What About The USA?

Given the near simultaneous global debut of the Launch Edition, it’s likely that Tesla will roll out the standard versions of the 2026 Model Y in North America in the coming weeks. This will give US customers more options and better pricing.

Currently, the Launch Edition is priced at $59,990 before taxes and the $7,500 federal tax credit for those who qualify. In comparison, the pre-facelift Model Y starts at $44,990 for the Long Range RWD, $47,990 for the Long Range AWD, and $51,490 for the Performance AWD.

Late in January, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cited Tesla for safety violations in a case involving a death at Giga Texas. The tragic accident happened back in August to a journeyman electrician. OSHA began an investigation at the time and has now concluded the case.

In a statement to Reuters, OSHA said that “The investigation is closed and citations have been issued.” Notably, the administration didn’t clarify exactly what the violations were or what the fines associated with those violations amounted to.

Read: From Cracked Sculls To Lost Fingers, Worker Injuries Pile Up At Rivian Plant

Reuters points out that OSHA already fined Tesla some $7,000 for two other violations at Giga Texas last year. According to the US Department of Labor, the maximum penalty for serious and other-than-serious violations is $16,550. The maximum penalty for willful or repeated violations is $165,514.

Reports from around the time of the incident indicate that the electrician, Victor Gomez Sr. was working for Belcan, a company hired by Tesla to work at Giga Texas. Gomez Sr. allegedly interacted with a hot electrical panel that he believed was inactive. Austin-Travis County EMS responded to Giga Texas and took him to Dell Seton Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.

His family sued Tesla and Belcan for what they claim were safety violations. It’s possible that this latest ruling from OSHA will only strengthen their case. This is far from the first time that Tesla has faced this sort of regulatory pressure over safety.

In 2023, OSHA fined it some $38,000 for workplace safety violations in California. Tesla isn’t the only one that has been fined for such violations. One notable example is General Motors‘ and LG Energy Solutions’ joint venture, Ultium Cells LLC, which faced a $270,091 penalty after a string of complaints and an explosion in March of 2023.