Autonomous driving may be the future, but the present still has a lot of explaining to do. Especially when cars with so-called “Full Self-Driving” capabilities start careening off the road for no obvious reason.

That said, it’s rare to see what we just have in a newly released set of videos involving a Tesla. According to the title, it shows a crash while running what Tesla calls its autonomous system, Full Self-Driving (Supervised). What’s worse, though, is that it seems to do so without rhyme or reason in broad daylight with no traffic on a straight road.

More: Tesla Stiffs Cybertruck Owners On Another Promised Feature

Tesla famously uses vision-based software and hardware to run its semi-autonomous Autopilot and Full Self-Driving (Supervised) software. In theory, it makes complete sense since we humans also drive almost entirely via vision-based mechanics. In practice, though, there are some major concerns, and this video highlights them. We’ll circle back to that.

The Incident: Straight Road, Sharp Left Turn

A YouTube channel recently uploaded four videos showing each side of a car during a crash. They say this is a Model 3 and that it’s running FSD 13.2.8, which is almost the latest available version. On May 11, Tesla released 13.2.8, but this crash happened on February 26 so indeed, it was up to date given that information.

That said, what the video shows is the most shocking part of this entire situation. Across three of the four clips, we see the car moving for 45 seconds. In all of them, everything appears totally normal for the first 31 seconds as the car trundles down a two-lane road. Then, just as a car passes going the opposite way, all hell seems to break loose.

The car turns hard to the left, goes across the opposing traffic lane, goes off the road, and hits a tree before rolling over. From the moment it begins to turn to the moment it impacts the tree is less than three seconds. While that’s tough to swallow, it’s the conditions that really make this a bad deal for Tesla.

The road was perfectly straight. This appears to be at some time in the relatively early or later part of the day as the shadows cast on the ground are long. Despite that, the sun is bright and seemingly unobstructed by clouds, so there’s no lack of lighting in the scene. Finally, there’s no complex traffic situation here with markings, other cars, or road signs.

Still, for whatever reason, it appears as though this car allegedly on FSD just decided that it needed to leave the roadway and did exactly that. Adding even more confusion to this crash are videos of YouTubers testing FSD against inanimate objects on the road. In almost every case, the technology focuses on slowing itself down, stopping even, to avoid an obstacle. Very rarely does it try this sort of hard steering input at speed.

The Lidar Elephant in the Room

And this brings us back to vision-based autonomous driving systems. Again, we humans use vision to determine how to control our cars. Tesla is trying to do that too, but it’s caught flack, and I suspect is about to catch far more, over its choice to skip using lidar and radar tech.

While vision can work, and obviously does for most people on most days, Lidar and radar offer the ability to easily see through bad weather conditions like fog or haze. They could simply be used as a redundancy to confirm what a vision-based system thinks it sees too. Nevertheless, Tesla ditched it years ago and its CEO Elon Musk appears committed to never bringing it back.

Reports From The Driver

According to the person who posted the videos on Reddit, he was going around 55 mph when the crash happened. He says of the experience, “I loved the FSD until this happened. I was a full believer in autonomous vehicles until this happened to me. Lesson learned.” Thankfully, the only injuries he suffered included a cut on his chin, some lower-back discomfort, and “emotional damage,” as he calls it.

It’s worth pointing out that there are many unknowns here. While there appears to be no reason to suspect these videos and their description are inaccurate, there could be more to the story that we’re not being told. If that doesn’t end up being the case, though, Tesla is likely in a lot of hot water over this. The owner has submitted requests for all of the data relating to the crash so hopefully more of that sees the light of day.

Previous crashes involving the software typically offered some sort of purchase for Tesla defenders to cling to. Based on everything available in the four videos here, it appears as though FSD just made its most blatant mistake in the public sphere.

If this is possible with the hardware and software running Tesla’s planned Robotaxi service, it might have to be even more careful than it’s already planning on being. When asked if he’d ever buy another Tesla, the owner of this car’s words were damning. “I want another but would NEVER use FSD again.” Yeah, I think we can all understand why.

Tesla boss Elon Musk has made plenty of wildly ambitious – and frequently inaccurate – claims about Tesla’s upcoming fleet of robotaxis. But now, after years of eyebrow-raising promises, the first of them is actually set to hit public roads next month. As part of a pilot program in Austin, Texas, Tesla will finally launch its long-hyped robotaxi service in a bid to close the wide lead Waymo currently holds in the autonomous vehicle race.

In 2019, Musk infamously claimed that by the end of that year, Tesla would have 1 million robotaxis on US roads. It does not currently have a single one, but next month, it will deploy approximately 10 robotaxis in Austin, and, if all goes well, could dramatically expand this to thousands of vehicles. Importantly, these will not be Tesla’s Cybercab, but rather versions of its current models equipped with the new Unsupervised Full-Self Driving system.

Read: Waymo’s Driverless Cars Kept Hitting Objects You See But They Don’t

During a recent interview with CNBC, Musk said it will be prudent for the company to be cautious in its roll-out of the system and that Tesla employees will monitor the fleet of robotaxis remotely.

“It’s prudent for us to start with a small number, confirm that things are going well and then scale it up,” Musk said. “We’ll be watching what the cars are doing very carefully and as confidence grows, less of that will be needed.”

To help ensure the roll-out of the robotaxi fleet is as smooth as possible, vehicles will be geofenced to certain areas of Austin. As the robotaxi fleet expands, Musk predicted that by the end of 2026, Tesla will have “hundreds of thousands, if not over a million Teslas doing self-driving in the US.” Like with all predictions from the world’s richest man, we’ll have to wait and see if this becomes a reality.

Buying Uber?

During the same interview, Musk was asked why Tesla doesn’t buy Uber. Musk sees no need to make such a move, noting the brand already has a large fleet of vehicles and everything it needs to run a successful robotaxi service. This will include the ability for private Tesla owners to add their vehicles to the fleet, meaning they can be used as robotaxis whenever the owner doesn’t need their car.

“We have millions of cars that will be able to operate autonomously,” Musk said. “And I should say that it’s a combination of a Tesla-owned fleet and also enabling Tesla owners to be able to add or subtract their car to the fleet, so that existing Tesla owners will be able to earn money by adding their car to the fleet for autonomous use.”

Elon Musk might plan on being with Tesla for the foreseeable future, but the board could have a different opinion if sales keep sinking like they have been. The CEO admitted recently that sales in Europe were problematic, and now we have more evidence of that. Tesla’s sales are down across the continent, and the issue appears to be getting worse.

More: The Tesla Model Y Has A New Rival From Toyota That’s Half The Price

It’s no secret that Musk’s divisive actions have led to boycotts and protests. What’s perhaps more surprising, though, is just how dramatically European buyers seem willing to stay away from Tesla. According to preliminary data from market research firm Dataforce, shared with Autonews Europe, the brand’s sales have dropped by over 38% through April, going from 101,677 units last year to just 62,313 this year.

The sales slump looks even worse when you break down the numbers for April alone. Sales year over year for the month fell from 14,696 to just 7,908. That’s a drop off of 46.2 percent. Low-volume cars like the Model S and Model X saw a combined decrease in sales of 69.1 percent, falling from 224 sales in April last year to just 69 this year. It’s not as if the high-volume cars are faring much better either.

Even the Model Y Isn’t Safe

Despite just launching a new and improved Model Y, the brand’s most popular car globally, it’s struggling too. Sales plummeted from 9,704 units in April last year to just 4,743 this April, a staggering 51.1% drop.That’s a devastating number. Tesla mentioned earlier in the year that a sales slowdown would happen for Model Y as production changed from the previous generation to this one. It also confirmed that it’s since finished that switch so this drop isn’t a result of that. Since the beginning of the year, Model Y sales across the EU, U.K., and EFTA countries have dropped by 48.4%. Ouch.

Tesla’s other key player, the Model 3, also saw a huge decline. Sales dropped from 4,768 units in April 2024 to 3,094 last month, a 35.1% decrease.

This would all be a lot easier to swallow for Tesla if sales were down for everyone, but that’s not the case. As Auto News points out, overall sales for all brands were essentially flat in April, with a minor dip of just 0.3% in the EU, U.K., and EFTA countries, down to 1,085,092, or about 4,000 fewer units than in April 2024.

In fact, the European market is actually embracing electrification more than ever this year. Battery-electric vehicle (EV) sales are up 28%, full-hybrid sales are up 16%, and plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) deliveries have risen by 12%. Meanwhile, sales of non-hybrid gasoline cars fell by 7.2%, and diesel vehicles saw a 19% decline.

It’ll be interesting to see what moves Tesla makes next. As of now, it seems like the company is sticking with its “keep calm and carry on” strategy. But given these numbers, it’s safe to say that strategy might need some serious rethinking.

Elon Musk seems to have no plans of stepping down from Tesla anytime soon, despite the growing grumbles from shareholders who aren’t thrilled about his other ventures, especially when meddling in global politics. To solidify his grip on the company, he’s also eyeing a bigger slice of Tesla’s pie, aiming to raise his stake to around 25%, just to make sure no investors can force him out.

While speaking over video during the Qatar Economic Forum in Doha this week, Musk said he has “no doubt” he will remain CEO for at least the next five years, unless he dies in that time. A little grim, but we get the point.

Read: Elon Musk’s Latest Investor Power Play Just Made Suing Tesla Nearly Impossible

This news may upset some who were concerned Musk was getting distracted and was no longer fully committed to Tesla, but there’s no denying the fact Musk has led Tesla through a rapid expansion that transformed them from a fringe player into one of the world’s largest car manufacturers by volume, and the single most valuable by market cap.

It was recently reported that Tesla board members started to reach out to executive search firms to see if they could find a new CEO. It’s understood that board members had grown concerned Musk was spending too much time in Washington alongside President Trump. However, both Tesla and Musk later denied these assertions.

As reported by the Wall Street Journal, Musk isn’t going anywhere. He currently owns a 12.77% stake in Tesla that currently is worth more than $140 billion, but during a separate interview this week, he said he’d like to increase this to around 25%. He believes this will give him enough control to ensure he cannot be ousted by activist investors.

“It’s not a money thing,” Musk said. “It’s a reasonable control thing over the future of the company. That’s the number I’d feel comfortable at, because that’s where I have some control, but not so much control that I can’t be thrown out, [unless] I’m destroying the value of the company or if I’ve just gone flat-out crazy.”

It seems as though some of the blowback for his involvement in US politics has also gotten to Musk. He spent almost $300 million last year to help President Trump return to the Oval Office, but has confirmed he will “do a lot less” political spending in the future. “If I see a reason to do political spending in the future, I will do it,” he added, but said, “I do not currently see a reason.”

Tesla’s engineers have been busy at the Nurburgring recently, and it’s not just the Model Y Performance getting a facelift. The updated version of the Model S Plaid was spotted, making a few laps around the track, with a fresh look that, frankly, doesn’t seem all that groundbreaking.

The Plaid was once the quickest electric production car at the ’Ring, but it’s had its thunder stolen recently by both the Weissach Pack-equipped Porsche Taycan Turbo GT, and Xiaomi’s new SU7 Ultra. There’s no way Tesla was going to take that lying down, and it’s testing an updated Plaid that’s sure to get a big upgrade over the existing car’s 1,006 hp (1,020 PS / 750 kW) triple-motor powertrain.

Related: New Tesla Model Y Performance Breaks Cover, Plaid Wheels And All

The black sedan was spotted putting in some hot laps wearing a bikini camouflage wrap on its nose and tail, though the changes appear to be so minor it was almost a waste of time covering them up. Because if you were hoping Tesla was finally going to make some major visual changes to its ancient sedan, something along the lines of the Model Y Juniper facelift, as imagined in renderings we’ve published before, you’re going to be disappointed.

Minor Updates, Bigger Expectations

Photos Baldauf / Carscoops

The sole change at the front appears to be a tiny lower lip spoiler mounted below the existing bumper. The headlights, DRLs graphic and bumper itself are seemingly identical to the ones on the current car. That means this new Plaid has the same basic face introduced when Tesla refreshed the original 2013 Model S for 2017, though it did some detail revisions in 2021 to help it fight against Porsche’s newer Taycan.

For the track work, however, it was rolling on a new design of alloy wheels that look like they might be bigger than the stock Plaid rims seen in the images of the car driving to and from the circuit. That could give the Plaid a bigger footprint to improve grip and traction, and to help push the rubber into the road Tesla has added a more aggressive diffuser below the rear bumper.

Tesla’s VP of Engineering, Lars Moravy, pretty much confirmed that Tesla would roll out a refreshed Model S this year, and while we weren’t  expecting an all-new car – though after 13 years, we deserve one – we were hoping for some bigger changes than it looks like Tesla will deliver.

Photos Baldauf / Carscoops

Tesla has been promising fully autonomous robotaxis for what feels like a lifetime, and now they’re telling us we can finally expect them next month. At least, that’s the plan, according to Tesla itself, with a “bullish” analyst now offering up some fresh details.

More: Tesla’s Robotaxi And Cybercab Might Need New Names

However, it’s not going to be the massive fleet of robo-cabs that everyone was hoping for. Instead, we’re looking at fewer than two dozen vehicles, and they’ll only be available to a select group of people. So, get in line (if you’re invited).

That news comes from Morgan Stanley Analyst Adam Jonas. According to a report from Investors, he recently met with Tesla to review how things are going. After all, Tesla has said repeatedly that it’ll launch its Robotaxi service in June of this year.

The Fleet’s Not So Grand After All

Jonas writes that “Austin’s a ‘go’ but fleet size will be low. Think 10 to 20 cars. Public roads. Invite only. Plenty of tele-ops to ensure safety levels (‘we can’t screw up’). Still waiting for a date.” That’s certainly not the huge splash many might have expected from Tesla. At the same time, some of that confirms what we already knew. Let’s break it down a little.

First, the fact that everything is still a ‘go’ sounds like Tesla is still on schedule. That’s encouraging. The small fleet size is a bit surprising, though. Even at the top end of 20 cars, one would imagine it’ll take a while to gather the data necessary to expand the program quickly. Tesla has long hinted that the service would include public roads, so that’s not shocking, but limiting it to invite-only status is interesting.

Perhaps that’s just a preliminary stage of the project, but it could help the brand avoid bad press should something go wrong. Of course, Jonas also confirms once again that Tesla will have teleoperators in place to monitor cars and take over if need be. How that’ll work in practice is up for debate, though.

A Reality Check

If we’re being serious here, this doesn’t sound all that different from what Tesla is already doing in Austin and San Francisco. Both cities offer a ridesharing app for some employees. In each city, users can hail a Tesla that will show up and take them to their destination with one big safety net: a human in the driver’s seat in case something goes wrong.

The new Robotaxi service in Austin sounds like it’s the same idea, but with a human driver dialed in remotely. The real standout here is Tesla’s Ground Truth Machine technology, which is busy mapping Austin using lidar and radar sensors.

Optimus News

Jonas says that we can expect additional news on Optimus, Tesla’s humanoid robot, later this year as well. If all goes according to plan, investors will have the opportunity to tour the robot manufacturing site during the final quarter of 2025. The automaker/tech company is evidently targeting a $20,000 price tag for Optimus. That’s a lot of cash, but no doubt some one-percenters won’t think twice about it. 

Tesla’s refreshed Juniper Model Y lineup has already introduced several variants, from the Launch Edition to the Rear-Wheel Drive and Long Range All-Wheel Drive versions. But if you’ve been holding out for something with more kick, the Performance version is next on the menu. Up until now, we hadn’t seen any confirmed prototypes, but that’s changed. Our spies caught one while it was out testing at the Nurburgring, still under camouflage, of course.

Now, don’t get too attached to this version just yet. This Model Y prototype might not represent the final production model, so some of these features could change on the cutting room floor. Still, here’s what we can confirm from our first look at the electric crossover.

What’s New? Spoilers and Wheels

The most obvious updates are the elongated spoiler on the trunk lid, which closely mirrors the one on the older Model Y Performance, and the chunky wheels, which look strikingly similar to the Arachnid rims found on the Model S Plaid. While we couldn’t check the exact size of the Pirelli P Zero tires, they appear to be 21-inch rims, possibly with a staggered setup, meaning the rear tires are wider than the front.

More: Tesla Debuts Its Cheapest Model Y In The US

Interestingly, unlike the Model 3 Performance, which gets an entirely new front bumper with additional aerodynamic tweaks, this Model Y prototype sticks with the standard bumper. But as we pointed out before, that could change before the car actually rolls off the assembly line.

We couldn’t get a peek inside, but our spies report that there are sport seats up front with added bolstering, likely borrowed from its sedan counterpart. The only other changes we expect over the standard trims are the Performance badges and graphics on the infotainment screen, as Tesla likes to keep things minimal.

Lower Ride Height and Track Features

This prototype also sits lower than the standard models, which makes sense given the performance upgrades. Not only does this improve driving dynamics, but it also gives the car a more aggressive stance, especially when paired with those larger wheels. Tesla will also offer an adaptive damper setup, similar to the Model 3 Performance, allowing drivers to toggle between Standard, Sport, and Track modes.

Also: Tesla Unleashes $2K Upgrade That Makes Your Model Y Juniper Faster In Seconds

Red brake calipers are also visible, and while there’s no official word yet, we’re hoping these signal more capable brakes, preferably ones that don’t overheat after a lap on the track, which has been a common gripe with the Model 3 Performance. For what it’s worth, our spies didn’t spot any dramatic brake failures or fiery moments while the car was tearing it up on the Ring. We’re also expecting some tweaks to the steering system to make things even sharper.

The Actual Performance Part

When it comes to performance, don’t expect any earth-shattering changes. The Model Y Performance should use the same dual-motor all-wheel-drive system as the Model 3 Performance, pushing out 510 horsepower and 554 lb-ft of peak torque, paired with a 79 kWh battery. If the sedan’s 0-60 mph time of 2.9 seconds (with rollout) is any indication, the new Model Y will be able to hit 0-60 in about 3.2-3.3 seconds, down from 3.5 seconds in the previous 470-hp Model Y Performance. As for range, unless Tesla opts for a bigger battery, it should stick around 290ish miles per charge.

Release and Pricing

While there’s no official launch date (because, well, it’s Tesla) we’re expecting the production version to debut later this year, possibly in the fourth quarter. As for pricing, it should land about $7,000-$8,000 above the Long Range AWD model, which starts at $48,990 before any federal tax incentives. That puts the Model Y Performance somewhere around $55,000, give or take.

It wasn’t a major Tesla shareholder who took down Elon Musk’s record-breaking $56 billion pay package in court, but rather a guy with just nine Tesla shares. But, of course, Tesla isn’t keen on letting that happen again. So, earlier this month, the company quietly tweaked its corporate bylaws, making it harder for shareholders to sue the board or executives over suspected breaches of fiduciary duty.

Read: Musk Appeals For $56 Billion Tesla Payday, As Firing Thousands Just Doesn’t Pay Enough

Tesla’s latest filing reveals that to sue the EV company, an investor now has to hold at least 3% of Tesla’s outstanding shares. Given the automaker’s current market value, that means you’d need around 97 million shares worth more than $34 billion to even think about taking legal action. Good luck with that.

The Texas Twist

Why the change? Well, Tesla has been able to implement this thanks to its recent move to Texas, a state with laws that are a bit friendlier to corporations than Delaware, where Tesla was originally incorporated. Richard Tornetta, the shareholder who first sued over Musk’s compensation, filed the case when Tesla was still a Delaware company. But last year, Tesla made the leap to Texas after receiving shareholder approval, making it easier to adopt these new, lawsuit-limiting bylaws.

Speaking with CNBC, corporate and securities law trial attorney Ann Lipton said Tesla is making the most of more favorable laws in Texas that allow companies to limit shareholder lawsuits for alleged breaches of fiduciary duties. While the change will likely go unnoticed by the majority of Tesla shareholders, it does severely limit their ability to take Tesla to court for wrongdoings.

Musk’s Pay Saga

Elon Musk continues efforts to have his compensation package reinstated. In 2018, the world’s richest man decided against taking a salary at Tesla and struck a deal to buy 303 million Tesla shares at $23 apiece if the company met certain performance and valuation targets. It reached all of these targets, but in January 2024, Delaware Chancellor Kathaleen McCormick annulled the pay plan. According to her, the Tesla board members who approved it were essentially beholden to Musk.

Tesla shareholders were then asked to vote on the pay package again, and they approved it a second time. But the judge wasn’t having it and blocked the deal yet again. It’s a pay plan that just won’t die, and it seems like neither will Musk’s determination to get it reinstated.

Even today, when most populated areas of the US and Europe provide access to at least some EV charging points, it’s all too easy to succumb to the panic of range anxiety when the remaining charge indicator lights up red. Now imagine you’re trying to explore rural Asia and you’ll understand why one EV owner came up with an unusual method of keeping range anxiety at bay.

Related: Cybertruck’s $16K Range Booster Is Dead And Tesla Isn’t Saying Why

The Chinese Tesla owner, who wanted to visit the Mount Everest viewing platform in Lazi County before road-tripping through uninhabited areas of Tibet, decided to turn his fully-electric Model Y into a kind of range-extender hybrid.

A Gasoline-Powered Back-Up Plan

To do it he mounted a gasoline generator to the rear of his SUV, complete with its own license plate to stay within the bounds of the law. The idea wasn’t to rely solely on the ICE power station and to avoid real static EV charging stations, but to help keep the Tesla going in remote areas where those chargers were few and far between.

While hardly capable of cranking out DC fast charging levels of power, the owner found it was still able to produce 3 kW even at the 17,400 ft (5,300 m) of the Everest viewing platform. That was enough to add 12 miles (19 km) of range per hour, though as Car News China points out, it’s not a true range extender because it can’t charge the Model Y on the move,

The owner, who’s known as @Xiaomo, reportedly paid ¥2,800 ($390) for the generator, which swallowed around 22 US cents’ worth of gas for every mile (1.6 km) covered. That makes running on gas more expensive than running on electricity piped in from a cheap mains supply in China, but it’s certainly preferable to finding yourself stranded in the middle of nowhere with a dead EV.

Tesla doesn’t seem interested in offering range extenders for its cars, but we’ve come across plenty more owners who’ve had the same idea, including one who added a turbo-diesel engine to the trunk of his Model S.

Images: @Xiaomo

Tesla has just opened the door to a new level of trade-ins: the Cybertruck can now be traded in for other vehicles. Surprising? Maybe, but for anyone who’s been paying attention to Tesla, it’s a move that’s been long overdue. While the Cybertruck was originally priced at $99,990, the trade-in values today are sitting around $63,000, which is a steep drop in just under two years.

Naturally, this hasn’t gone over well with some Tesla owners, who seem to have forgotten the brand’s history. “There’s no point in trading in/upgrading with that low of an offer,” said one person on Cybertruckownersclub. “That’s about $25k depreciation – assuming $10k for FSD,” said another. One more person calculated a 17.2 percent hit in value over what has essentially been barely more than a year.

Read: This Used Cybertruck Just Sold For $6K More Than A New One

Of course, they jumped through a lot of hoops, counting all sorts of things to add value. A more straightforward comparison, from the original price to the trade-in value, suggests depreciation of over 30 percent in that same time period. Taking that kind of hit on a ‘Foundation Series’ is pretty wild. Yet, some owners don’t seem bothered at all.

Several expressed the desire to keep their truck for good and at least one even mentioned willing it to their kids. Clearly, this situation is going to affect different buyers in vastly different ways. For Tesla though, this might be just a bit more gaming of the system.

Now let’s layer on a little extra context. Just last week, it came to light that Tesla had been up to its usual tricks with trade-ins. When it took back cars from customers on lease deals, it promised to turn them into robotaxis. Instead, it just installed some new software features and resold them at a tidy profit. This is the kind of behavior Tesla could repeat with the Cybertruck. After all, if a car didn’t come with all the software options, Tesla could easily push an update, send it back to market, and charge a premium.

There’s really no good reason to believe that Tesla won’t try to do something similar here with the Cybertruck. Owners who didn’t get every available software option could see their trade-in back on the market with a serious markup in price. After all, Tesla only needs to send a software update to enable some features.

All of that said, it’s an interesting situation that Tesla is now in. It’s fighting battles on just about every front while still offering what is objectively a compelling set of products. Will that alone be enough to stem the tide? Only time will tell. At least until then, the chance of getting a Cybertruck for $39,990, albeit on the second-hand market, is getting better.

Credit: Carsly / Rinoa0 / Outdoors / Cybertruckownersclub.com

The FD-generation of the Mazda RX-7 is often hailed as one of the most stunning Japanese sports cars of the 1990s, and even today, it still turns heads. Decades after its release, it still looks the part, and well-loved examples can fetch more than MSRP at auction. But this one, listed over on Cars & Bids, offers something a little different.

Also: This Is One Twisted Creation You Have To See To Believe

Under its fetching curves and Montego Blue paint lies a Tesla drivetrain. It makes 362 horsepower (269 kW) and 325 lb-ft (440 Nm) of torque. That’s good enough to keep up with or even beat its original form. The best part though is that it weighs less than it did when it had a rotary engine.

That last point might sound strange. Most EVs are very heavy, and even electromods can end up with weighty battery packs and questionable balance. Not this one, though. It’s been carefully built around a 42 kWh water-cooled lithium-ion pack. Upgraded Ground Control coilovers and Eibach springs help the Mazda handle as it should, too.

Finally, No More Pretending to Love Oil Changes

Of course, with a project of this sort, range is the big tradeoff. This RX-7 features just 120 miles (just shy of 200 km) of range, if you’re careful, so don’t expect to take it on a grand tour. That said, it’ll go long enough to enjoy some serious canyon carving, a cars and coffee meetup, or an everyday work commute in silence. It’s hard to argue with the convenience factor, too. Forget oil changes. No need to worry about Apex seals either. No compression tests are in its future. Unplug and go. That’s this car’s motto.

Even the details appear dialed in. The builder kept the pop-up headlights, added in a rotary-style shifter, and Speedhut gauges. That includes a fuel-level gauge repurposed to show battery charge. A Tesla accelerator pedal sits on a custom-printed bracket. The car even features an updated sound system from Alpine. That all said, it’s not perfect.

It needs work to get the air conditioning running, some of the seats need work, and the body and cabin sport the kind of wear you’d expect in a car from 1993. In the end, though, it’s possible that this is a faster, more reliable RX-7 than it was originally. For many gearheads, that’s a trade-off worth making. It might not drink fuel anymore, but it’ll still burn rubber.

If you’re intrigued by the idea of an electric RX-7 and think you’re up for owning something that blends ’90s nostalgia with a modern twist, check out the listing here and place your bid.

Credit: Cars&Bids

Service experiences: like most things in life, they are not always the same. Some are exemplary, most range from quite good to satisfactory, others are bad – and then there are these ones. Imagine dropping your prized six-figure possession off at a service center for a few minor fixes, only to get it back with more issues than you started with, including, bizarrely, a completely wiped odometer. That’s what one unlucky Tesla Cybertruck owner had to endure, as detailed in a head-scratching thread.

More: Tesla’s Recall Service Left This Cybertruck With A Burn Mark And Panel Gap

In the words of the owner, “My CyberBeast went in for a spa day and came back a newborn, with a lazy eye and a missing limb.” That’s the almost unbelievable title to a new thread over at CybertruckOwners. In it, one member describes one of the strangest service experiences we’ve heard about in a while. Not only did Tesla’s service not address all of the issues this Cybertruck had, they gave it back to the customer after wiping the odometer. This wasn’t a rollback. This was more of a ‘never was.’

Notably, this is a Cyberbeast we’re talking about. The most expensive version at over $100,000, and one would like to hope, most carefully crafted cars Tesla makes. The owner dropped it off for a handful of minor things. He wanted a new light bar installed, he asked Tesla to nudge a few panel gaps so that they’d line up better, and the service team needed to address an on-again-off-again ABS alert.

Service Day Turns Into a Nightmare

According to his post, Tesla promised to have it all done by Thursday of that week. When that fell through, the service team moved his pickup day to Friday, and sure enough, by 5:30 p.m., it was ready… or so he thought. When he arrived, a few things weren’t quite right. The truck didn’t remember his phone, trim was hanging down under the glove box, and the odometer read zero.

As he puts it, “My 26 k-mile CyberBeast is now a CyberBaby. Shot a video while the “count” rolled from 0 → 1 as I left the lot. App and service menu agree — factory-fresh, just ignore the 5 months of road-trip Dorito dust.” To make this even clearer, it wasn’t a glitch. Based on whatever happened while the truck was in service, every source of information about his mileage agreed.

Video Cybertruckownersclub

Just to hammer the point home, the owner even included a video showing the odometer moving from 0 to 1 mile as he drove away. However, that wasn’t even the worst of it. The light bar installation? Well, let’s just say it looked like it had been done by someone who didn’t quite understand what the word symmetry means. There was a half-inch gap on one side and none on the other. And (because, why not?) there was a loose bolt in the tailgate and a trim panel that wasn’t even properly attached.

Also: Some Cybertrucks Getting Bricked After Tesla’s Latest Software Updates

At this point, he’s still trying to figure out what the proper solution is. Many on the forum believe Tesla missed a step, or several, near the end of service. Regardless, it’s not a good look for a company already working hard to improve its public image. 

Credit: CheddaTruck

The reception to the all-electric Dodge Charger Daytona has been, well, less than enthusiastic. Critics have pointed out that it’s too heavy, too bulky, and, frankly, feels somewhat half-baked. To top it off, it doesn’t set your pulse racing the way the classic V8-powered Challenger did. Things have gotten so rough that Dodge has decided to pull the plug on the base Daytona R/T for the 2026 model year, leaving only the Scat Pack as the remaining option.

Read: You Aren’t Buying It, So Dodge Is Killing The Electric Charger Daytona R/T (Update)

So, how does the Charger Daytona Scat Pack stack up against the competition? Edmunds recently put it head-to-head with one of the best value-for-money electric performance cars around right now, the Tesla Model 3 Performance, in their U-Drag race.

Edmunds’ U-Drag Race pits two cars against each other in a straight-up test of acceleration and handling, with real-world drag racing and tight cornering on display. It’s a test of how these cars actually perform when pushed to their limits.

Price Gap: More Than Just a Numbers Game

Let’s talk numbers for a moment. The Tesla comes in at a much lower price, $56,630 with destination charges included, while the Charger Daytona Scat Pack starts at $70,190 with no options. Add in a few optional features, and that gap widens to nearly $28,000. Both cars qualify for the $7,500 federal tax credit. But let’s not get distracted by the price just yet; it’s time to talk performance.

Tesla’s Clear Edge in Acceleration

Accelerating away from the line, the Model 3 Performance has the clear advantage. Tesla says its twin electric motors combine to produce 510 hp and 554 lb-ft (751 Nm), whereas Dodge says the Charger Scat Pack is good for 670 hp and 627 lb-ft (850 Nm). On paper, it’s a tight match. The more powerful Dodge claims a 0-60 time of 3.3 seconds, while Tesla states the Model 3 Performance hits 60 mph with a rollout in just 2.9 seconds.

In reality, not only does the Tesla easily pull away in both races, but even as the speeds exceed 60 mph, it continues to stretch ahead, arriving at the braking point well ahead of the Charger. In the first race, the driver of the Dodge was able to close the distance under braking, but the Model 3 handles better and performs a tighter and quicker U-turn, thanks in part to its more neutral handling, the reviewers note.

During its tests, Edmunds recorded a best 0-60 mph time in the Tesla of 3.1 seconds and 3.7 seconds for the Dodge. The Model 3 then stormed down the quarter mile in 11.3 seconds at 122.1 mph (196.4 km/h), compared to the 12.0 seconds of the Dodge at 118.7 mph (191.0 km/h). Interestingly, the Charger had the advantage in lateral grip, pulling a peak of 1.19G compared to the Tesla’s 1.13G. But, that wasn’t enough to make up for its slower acceleration.

The first-mover advantage is something Tesla continues to capitalize on. It’s been over 20 years since the brand first launched, and no other automaker in the U.S. has even come close to challenging Tesla’s dominance in the EV space. Despite the growing competition, Tesla still holds a commanding market share, which hovers around 45%.

More: House Speaker Says EV Tax Credits Are Likely Finished

However, if House Republicans succeed in their push, the company’s position could be further strengthened, but at a cost to legacy automakers like Ford and GM. The reason? A looming change to the Federal Tax Credit that currently helps all EV makers sell vehicles.

The Current EV Tax Credit System

At the moment, those who buy a new or used EV in America might qualify for one of two credits. New car buyers can qualify for up to $7,500, and used car buyers can get up to $4,000. These credits are in addition to various state incentives, such as the $5,000 credit in Colorado and $3,500 in Massachusetts.

To be eligible, the vehicle must meet certain requirements, such as North American assembly and specific sourcing of battery materials. SUVs and pickups are eligible for the credit if priced under $80,000, while regular cars must be under $55,000. Income limits also apply: individuals making under $150,000 and couples under $300,000 qualify. For leased vehicles, the credit goes to the leasing company, which often (but not always) passes on the savings to customers, contributing to a rise in EV leases.

That might not seem like a huge chunk of change considering the price of some EVs, but in reality, it plays a huge role in sales. For instance, in 2022, before the introduction of the tax credit, 96,000 EVs were leased. By 2023, that number skyrocketed to nearly 600,000. But a recent budget bill released on Monday proposes ending both the new and used car credits, along with several other non-automotive tax incentives.

A Slower EV Adoption Could Hurt Major Automakers

According to a report from the New York Times, Cox Automotive’s Stephanie Valdez Streaty believes that almost a third of car sales in 2030 will be EVs if the credit stays as it is. However, should the government get rid of it, that figure could drop to just 20 percent. Slowing the adoption of EVs wouldn’t just be a potential backsliding for environmentalists, it could hit big automakers like GM and Ford in a big way.

Those brands are still trying to get to the point where their EV businesses are profitable. And their far from it with their numbers. On the other hand, Tesla hit that mark long ago, so while other players will need to sort out new strategies, it can continue to reap the benefits of being the first to market in the way it was.

Other legacy automakers, such as Toyota, Hyundai, and Kia, have made significant investments in U.S.-based EV production, but they too could face a major setback if the bill passes. The removal of these credits would undermine the financial viability of the incentives that made their business cases profitable.

EV Startups Face Even Greater Financial Pressure

Although Tesla would also be impacted by the removal of the tax credit, it stands to gain in ways its rivals cannot. While Tesla may be able to withstand lower sales, many of its competitors will not have that luxury and could be forced to shut down. Newcomers like Rivian and Lucid, for example, would face immense financial pressure as their sales figures don’t support a profitable business model.

Even smaller, more recent startups like Slate would likely have to review their entire business plan. What, after all, is the point of a tiny EV trucklet with 150 miles of range, no desirable mainstream features, and a price that is as high as a Ford Maverick?

In the grand scheme, while Tesla will undoubtedly be affected, the long-term payoff could be substantial. It may emerge as the dominant force in the EV market with little to no competition to contend with. In other words, instead of having 45% of the EV market’s 33% of car sales, it could end up with double that of the predicted 20%.

In the grand scheme, Tesla will undoubtedly face challenges, but the long-term payoff could be massive. It might emerge as the dominant force in the EV market with little to no competition to contend with in America. Instead of holding 45% of the EV market’s 33% share of total car sales, Tesla might dominate nearly the entire 20% share that EVs are expected to capture in the 2030s if tax credits vanish, while also further extending its technological lead in the field.

“What this does globally to the U.S. auto industry and its ability to compete – I think it’s going to hurt us,” Ms. Valdez Streaty said. “I think it’s going to slow us down, and we are already behind China.”

In the wake of the US-China trade war, Tesla temporarily halted shipments of parts from China to the US. However, with both countries now agreeing to a 90-day truce and significantly reducing their respective tariffs, Tesla is looking to resume the import of critical components from China. Elon Musk may want to keep this news under wraps from President Trump, though, as his stance on tariffs is far from favorable.

Read: Tesla’s CyberCab Promises 300-Mile Range with Surprisingly Small Battery

An unnamed inside source told Reuters that Tesla will start shipping Cybercab and Semi parts from China at the end of this month. The electric automaker will reportedly start trial production of the Cybercab in October before moving ahead with mass production in 2026. Tesla has grandiose ambitions for the Cybercab and is betting on hundreds of thousands of units being sold in the US, forming the core of its long-awaited robotaxi service.

As the electric car maker gears up for production, many details about the Cybercab remain under wraps. What is known, however, is that the vehicle will be a compact, two-seater, completely eliminating the traditional steering wheel and pedals. Tesla is keeping specifics to a minimum, but early reports suggest the Cybercab will feature a battery pack smaller than 50 kWh, yet still offering an impressive range of approximately 300 miles (483 km).

Progress on the Tesla Semi

Production of the Tesla Semi officially began in late 2022, but progress has been slow. Full-scale production is expected to kick off next year at a new factory adjacent to the existing Gigafactory in Nevada, which will significantly expand Tesla’s production capabilities.

While Elon Musk and President Trump have found common ground on many issues in recent months, tariffs remain a notable point of disagreement. Trump has famously called tariffs “the most beautiful word to me in the dictionary,” yet Musk has long championed free trade. In fact, according to Reuters, he urged Trump to lower tariffs, though he ultimately left the decision in the President’s hands.

One of the unanticipated consequences of the tariffs was their negative impact on domestic production. Tesla’s CFO, Vaibhav Taneja, noted that the tariffs hurt the company’s US investments, as the company had to import equipment from China to expand its local production lines.

Until recently, Tesla lease customers were left with no option to buy their cars at the end of their lease term. Why? Because Elon Musk was sure that these cars were just biding their time until they could be turned into autonomous robotaxis.

Fast forward a few years, and, surprise, the robotaxi future hasn’t materialized. So, instead of the cars joining some high-tech fleet, Tesla decided to flip them for more profit, and customers aren’t exactly thrilled about it.

More: Yes, New Car Prices Did Jump After Trump Announced Tariffs, Data Proves

In a 2019 earnings call, Musk stated, “You don’t have the option of buying. We want them back.” The “them” being the cars, of course. He went on to confidently predict that by the following year, Tesla would have “over 1 million robotaxis on the road.” The idea was that the hundreds of thousands of leased Teslas would eventually join this futuristic fleet. Tesla even told its lease customers this was the exact reason they couldn’t buy the car they’d been driving.

According to a new report from Reuters, those same cars from 2019 to 2024 ended up with upgrades. And then, Tesla put them back up for sale or sold them via auction. From a business perspective, it’s a savvy move. It costs Tesla basically nothing to upgrade these cars via software and then “jack up the price”, according to an unnamed source who spoke to the outlet.

In some cases, that meant an acceleration boost worth around $2,000. In others, it meant the addition of Full Self-Driving (Supervised) tech, which has cost some customers up to $15,000 at times, though now it’s back down to $8,000.

On the used market, these cars fetched far more than they would have if Tesla had simply let the lessees buy them at the end of their term, particularly during the Covid-induced price surge. Needless to say, customers weren’t thrilled to learn their car had been sold off without their knowledge. One particularly upset owner even called out the brand publicly.

Wow so returning a .@tesla lease is a poor experience. Poor customer service, crazy charges, lies about not being able to buy out my lease, then the car gets sold at auction not turned into a robo taxi like I was told.
Slow clap @elonmusk
Also canceled my cybertruck order.

— PixelsandPeeps (@PixelsandPeeps) May 4, 2024

A Shift In Policy

Things changed in late 2024, however. On November 27, Tesla announced that lessees would now have the freedom to buy their car at the end of their term. Why the change, especially if the automaker is closer than ever to Level 5 autonomy as it claims? Values are dropping faster than ever before. On top of that, competition is getting better, and Tesla’s public perception is struggling right now.

Allowing lessees to buy their vehicle is what most of the auto industry sees as a no-brainer since the customer is already there and connected to the car in question. Of course, this depends on the buyout price, which, in many cases, is still inflated. For instance, the buyout price for a standard Model Y AWD is a hefty $33,251 before taxes, which is higher than current market prices for three year old examples.

Still, the damage done by Tesla to its customer base might be irreparable to a degree. One customer told Reuters that “I love the car, I just don’t like what has been going on at the top with the CEO. I don’t want to be associated with that anymore.” At least Tesla’s new plan seems to be to build its own Robotaxi fleet. Whether it gets to even call it that remains up for debate.

Do you own a Tesla Cybertruck but despise the wing mirrors that it comes with? Well, Tesbros has a “solution” for you. They’ve started selling a mirror delete kit for the electric pickup, which will make your vehicle look a little less… conventional. But before you rush to buy one, it’s worth checking whether your state even allows driving without wing mirrors. After all, you might end up with a ticket instead of a cleaner-looking truck.

Many states across the United States require cars to have both left and right wing mirrors, while others require at least one wing mirror. For states where mirrors aren’t explicitly required in local legislation, such as Alabama, Georgia, Iowa, and Montana, this is an intriguing way to make your Cybertruck look a little nicer(?).

Read: Masked Man Allegedly Caught With Tesla Map After Torching Cybertruck

When the mirrors of the Cybertruck are removed, an ugly hole is left behind on the door. Tesbros solution is a small stainless steel plate and a piece of ABS plastic to cover up the mess. The plate’s underside mimics that of the mirror and screws into place, securing it and ensuring it’s sturdy. Tesbros says the kit has been designed to work in all different conditions, including in states like Arizona, where it gets very hot in the summer.

The small piece of stainless steel used has been cut from a scrap Tesla Cybertruck door that Tesbros was able to secure, meaning it matches up nicely. However, they only had enough stainless steel to produce 80 kits, and it seems the entire first batch has already sold out. A future version of the kit, likely made from aluminum, is in development, with a plastic version also under consideration.

The original stainless kit wasn’t exactly a bargain, priced at a staggering $299 for what’s essentially two pieces of stainless steel and two bits of ABS plastic. And just to add a little more drama to the mix, at least one user on the Cybertruck Owners Club reported that after installing the kit, the adhesive holding the ABS piece to the stainless steel gave way, causing it to fly off on the highway. However, they did note that the company sent replacements which appear to be fine.

Tesbros

Charging an electric vehicle can sometimes be a really peaceful experience. Some models even offer the ability to watch TV or play games during the process. One Cybertruck owner had that peace ruined recently when a Dodge Charger driver lost control and rammed his pickup. It just so happens that another Tesla owner caught the entire situation on camera too.

The situation unfolded at the Destiny USA mall in Syracuse, New York. There, a Model Y owner says that the folks in the Dodge nearly hit him. “I was out for a walk when I nearly got hit by these [explicit]. A moment later, I heard their engine rev and I KNEW they were going to do something stupid. So I started recording,” he wrote on Reddit.

More: No One Knows Where This Tire Came From, But It Ripped Through A Mercedes Roof Anyway

He couldn’t have been more correct about his assertion. Despite having an expansive parking lot at their disposal, the driver of this Charger R/T begins a donut relatively close to nearby Teslas charging at a Supercharger station. He gets quite a slide going, complete with some opposite lock, too. When he straightens out, things go sideways in a more metaphorical sense, though.

First, he drives over a calming island near the parking lot entrance. For whatever reason, it’s only after clearing the island that he engages his brakes. Video shows that despite his brakes being on, the car has enough momentum to carry it into the next calming island on the other side of the entrance. When he hits that, the front end flies up and off the ground. Ultimately, the car comes back to earth and keeps rolling until it hits the driver’s side of the Cybertruck.

Video Reddit

It’s clear from the video that the Dodge is not okay after the crash. Smoke is billowing from the front rather than from the rear tires. Part of the undercarriage protection is on the ground, and there is debris all over the lot, though it could be organic rather than bits of Mopar left behind. That said, the Cybertruck looks great for having just been hit by a car, even at a slow speed.

According to the Reddit post, the crash left motor oil and transmission fluid leaking out onto the ground. Meanwhile, the Cybertruck owner got out to check the damage and apparently found… none. “The truck looked completely fine!” the poster added. Safe to say, the Dodge driver got a little more Cybertruck than they bargained for.

Credit: Hammer Of Something/Reddit

Tesla’s massive factory in Shanghai, China, has the capacity to build roughly 1 million vehicles every year. However, it could fall quite short of that number this year based on disappointing sales figures of its Chinese-made models in April, which slipped 25.8% from the month prior.

The China Passenger Car Association revealed that a total of 58,459 Tesla Model 3s and Model Ys built in China were sold last month. Importantly, this figure isn’t a reflection of the total number of vehicles that Tesla sold in China alone, but also includes other markets where it sells Shanghai-built vehicles, including Europe and the Asia-Pacific region.

Read: Tesla Sales Crash Over 80% In Sweden And That’s Just The Beginning

This is just the latest episode of Tesla’s sales drop saga in recent days. In April, its sales collapsed in key European markets like Spain, Germany, Belgium, France, the Netherlands, and the UK. Its sales have also tanked in Australia, where, not too long ago, it was the EV leader. In April, seven other EV models from Chinese and Korean brands outsold the Tesla Model Y and Tesla Model 3.

Rivals Are Closing In

Many factors at play can help to explain why Tesla sales continue to fall. Obviously, negative public sentiment about chief executive Elon Musk is one of them, particularly due to his meddling in politics, not just in the US but around the world as well. Additionally, Tesla has a relatively limited and aging line-up of EVs compared to some of its competitors, with the Model 3 and Model Y being the serious volume sellers.

Rivals are also quickly gaining ground on the American brand. In April, Nio’s sales grew 53% from a year ago, with 23,900 vehicles sold. Additionally, Xpeng recorded its second-best month ever, securing 35,045 sales. Xiaomi also managed to deliver more than 28,000 vehicles in April while Li Auto’s sales rose 32% to 33,939.

Electric vehicle sales in Australia are shifting fast, and the usual frontrunners are no longer guaranteed a spot at the top. As more buyers look beyond the legacy names, newer players are gaining ground, especially those with sharper price tags and more features for the money.

In 2023 and 2024, the Tesla Model Y was comfortably the best-selling EV in Australia. However, new options from Chinese and Korean brands have led to a massive slump in local sales of the Model Y, so much so that in April, it was only the 8th best-selling EV in the country. Evidently, it’s not just in Europe where Elon Musk’s company is falling out of favor.

Read: Tesla Couldn’t Even Sell Its Model Y Launch Editions As Hundreds Are Sitting Unsold

Storming in as the best-selling EV by far in Australia last month was the BYD Sealion 7, according to a report from Carsguide. It is the latest addition to BYD’s Ocean series of models and undercuts the Model Y on price, starting at AU$54,990 (~$35,400) and topping out at AU$63,990 (~$41,200), compared to the new Tesla that starts at AU$63,400 (~$40,800) and AU$73,400 (~$47,200) for the flagship version. Last month, 734 Sealion 7s were sold across the country.

Next up is the MG 4. While it’s been around for a couple of years now, the electric hatchback remains popular with 363 units sold in April. This positioned it just ahead of the BYD Atto 3, with 355 sold. Kia’s newly-launched EV5 and EV3 have also been well-received by local shoppers, with sales of 342 and 336, respectively. The BYD Seal then shifted 325 units while the new Geely EX5 sold 325 examples.

Then there’s the Tesla Model Y. A total of 280 were sold last month, positioning it slightly ahead of the Tesla Model 3 with 220 sales. Rounding out the top 10 was the BYD Dolphin with 216 examples finding new homes.

Now, before you start thinking recent sales represent the imminent collapse of Tesla, it’s worth noting that throughout April in Australia, Tesla was selling a mix of the outgoing Model Y and the brand new version. As we can see from the official page, Tesla still has a healthy inventory of the old crossover.

Many shoppers are likely holding off on placing an order until the new Model Y lands in earnest, which will happen over the next couple of months. Nevertheless, April’s results will likely have some local Tesla executives a little worried.

BEST SELLING VEHICLES AUSTRALIA

Wider Market Trends

Australia’s total new car sales declined in April. A total of 90,614 new vehicles were sold across the country last month, representing a decline of 6.8% compared to the same month in 2024 and quite a dramatic fall from the 108,606 new cars sold in March.

EV SALES AUSTRALIA