Latest news with #Electrek
Gizmodo
4 hours ago
- Automotive
- Gizmodo
Original Tesla Founder Is Sad That Musk Made a ‘Truck That Looks Like a Dumpster'
Unbeknownst to much of the public, Elon Musk did not actually start Tesla. Indeed, Musk was actually the company's 4th CEO when he initially joined the company way back in 2008. While Musk can be credited with substantially transforming the firm and its offerings, its original co-founders, Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning, launched Tesla in 2003. Musk and those original executives have had their tussles over the years. In fact, tensions between Musk and Eberhard led to a 2009 lawsuit and settlement. That settlement found that Musk could call himself a co-founder of the company, alongside Eberhard, Tarpenning, JB Straubel, and Ian Wright. As first spotted by Electrek, during a recent interview with EV YouTuber Kim Java, Eberhard expressed discontent with the direction of the company and referred to Musk's newest vehicular creation in a less-than-flattering fashion. 'I am actually disappointed that Tesla canceled its low-end car program because that's what the world needs—not a truck that looks like a dumpster,' Eberhard said. In addition to insulting Musk's floundering Cybertruck, Eberhard seems to have been referring to Tesla's previously espoused goal of launching a more affordable line of cars. Most of the new vehicles from the company cost in the $40k range, although in the past, both Musk and Tesla announced a 'planned $25,000 EV would be an all-new model, designed and built from scratch on a new platform,' Reuters previously reported. Musk had characterized the program 'as a testbed for groundbreaking manufacturing innovations that would lower the cost of electric vehicles,' the outlet writes. However, last summer, Reuters reported that Musk had 'killed' the $25,000 EV. Musk later denied the report and accused the outlet of 'lying.' Reuters subsequently reported that Musk 'had, in fact, canceled the low-cost vehicle, which many investors called the Model 2, and pivoted Tesla to focus on self-driving robotaxis.' Musk's claims that Reuters was lying reportedly confused 'some senior managers [at the company],' spurring them to ask him whether 'he'd changed his mind. Musk rejected their concerns and said the project was still dead,' Reuters said. However, despite this past drama, Tesla still claims to be moving ahead with an affordable car program. During the company's earnings call about a week ago, Tesla appeared to provide an update on this program. A shareholder deck that was circulated seemed to imply that this program will see progress later this year. Teslerati notes that the deck said: 'We continue to expand our vehicle offering, including first builds of a more affordable model in June, with volume production planned for the second half of 2025.' The outlet notes that the 'pricing of the affordable models still remains a mystery.' Not all of Eberhard's recent comments about Musk were negative. He also complimented the tech billionaire for having 'transformed Tesla into one of the most valuable companies in the world.' He added: 'That's good. I'm glad to see my baby surviving.' He also said he felt SpaceX (Musk's rocket company) was a 'remarkably good company' while noting that he felt Musk doesn't 'do an adequate job of giving credit to the people who made that possible.' He credited Gwynne Shotwell, SpaceX's president, with keeping 'the rockets flying.' Gizmodo reached out to Tesla and Musk for comment. Eberhard is, of course, not the first person to insult Musk's bulky contraption. Since its launch, the Cybertruck has been referred to by a variety of colorful monikers, including—just to pick a few off the internet—'truly a piece of shit,' 'the stupidest vehicle ever designed' and 'literally the worst thing I've ever seen,' among many others. Indeed, hatred for the truck and its owners has reached such great heights that owners recently launched a Facebook support group designed to help them cope with all of the world's hostilities.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Customer sues Amazon after suffering serious injury while using popular product: 'Complete disregard for the safety of its subscribers'
Customer sues Amazon after suffering serious injury while using popular product: 'Complete disregard for the safety of its subscribers' The megacorporation Amazon has had its fair share of controversies, but a lawsuit over an e-bike incident is bringing attention to issues about the company's accountability. What's happening? According to Electrek, California man Robert Lewis purchased an e-bike on Amazon and suffered a disastrous injury, leaving him paraplegic. "The e-bikes distributed through and sold by are the latest example of Amazon seeking to profit off of a new consumer product space with complete disregard for the safety of its subscribers," the lawsuit reads, per Electrek. The lawsuit compares e-bike sales to the hoverboard craze. It suggests Amazon inundates its site with trending products, allegedly doing so without always making proper safety assessments. "Lewis's legal team … is seeking damages for medical costs, lost wages, and punitive damages, pointing to what they describe as a pattern of neglect by Amazon…" Electrek reported. Why is the lawsuit important? Lewis is suing both Amazon and the company that made the bike. He fell from the bike in December 2024 when the handlebars gave out due to the locking system failing. He officially filed the suit in June 2025. This incident of carelessness by a massive company is not unheard of. Amazon has faced backlash for countless other problems, including the company's major contribution to pollution — amounting to more than that of some countries. While it has taken a few visible steps to reroute its path towards sustainability, such as implementing electric delivery vans and getting rid of most of its plastic packaging pillows, it has still been accused of greenwashing — or using supposedly eco-friendly practices to boost business but not actually helping the environment at all. Not only is this incident a tragedy for Lewis, but it is also a stumbling block for the eco-friendly movement, as consumers are more likely to be wary of e-bikes because of safety concerns and fears about faulty products. This incident could deter people from purchasing from even reputable sellers, setting back the transition to electric vehicles. Do you worry about companies having too much of your personal data? Absolutely Sometimes Not really I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. What's being done about faulty products? The hope is that suits like Lewis's bring attention to a bigger issue and help hold the company accountable. While Amazon has previously avoided similar suits, claiming to be a sales platform separate from the sellers themselves, some individuals have had success in instances of defective items or injury, as Habig Injury Law reported. To avoid the fleeting trends associated with Amazon, you can try thrift shopping — buying used items at low prices without contributing to the massive production pollution of mega companies. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the the daily Crossword
India.com
5 days ago
- Automotive
- India.com
Elon Musk's big bet! Tesla to bring ‘cheap' electric cars to increase…, know when will they be launched
Tesla's sales have been declining, and to counter this, the company is preparing to launch more affordable electric cars. After falling demand for Model 3 and Model Y, Tesla is facing challenges in markets like China and Europe. Production of the new, cheaper model is expected to begin in 2025. Tesla's sales are dropping, and to tackle this issue and boost overall sales, the company will enter the market with cheaper EVs. In its Q2 2025 financial results, Tesla informed investors that it had 'begun manufacturing a more affordable model in June.' Due to the low demand for Model 3 and Model Y, Elon Musk's company is struggling in key markets like China and Europe. Elon Musk's Plan For Tesla Cars Tesla stated that it has begun work on a more affordable model that will be positioned below the Model 3 and Model Y. The company revealed that large-scale production of this new EV is scheduled for the second half of 2025, wherein initial production will begin in the first half of 2025 (1H2025). Initially, Tesla had planned to build the affordable EV on a new platform. However, the new model will now use the existing architecture of the Model 3 and Model Y. It is expected to be a stripped-down version with fewer features. In terms of size, the new EV will be smaller than the Model Y. Testing of this affordable model has also begun. Elon Musk Hopes For Comeback This isn't the first time Tesla has announced plans to enter the affordable EV segment. According to Electrek , the company had earlier worked on a similar plan, which was later scrapped by Musk. That project was popularly referred to as the '$25,000 Tesla' with the codenames NV91 and NV92. Tesla was initially developing it on a new platform, but Musk eventually rejected it. However, Musk is now hopeful that Tesla will make a strong comeback in the European market, especially as he anticipates approval for the company's autonomous self-driving technology.
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Leaked footage sparks speculation over Tesla's new prototype — here's what we know
A Tesla prototype is igniting buzz among enthusiasts who believe it could indicate that a more affordable electric vehicle will soon be available from the longtime king of the EV market. As detailed by Electrek, the Tesla shareholder community has been lighting up social media with speculation that the automaker will launch a cheaper version of its Model Y, the world's top-selling car for nearly two years before being overtaken by Toyota's RAV4 in 2024. Switch Auto Insurance and Save Today! Great Rates and Award-Winning Service Affordable Auto Insurance, Customized for You The Insurance Savings You Expect Images and footage circulating on X suggest that Tesla may soon make good on its promise to introduce an affordable compact vehicle after CEO Elon Musk effectively scrapped plans for two $25,000 models, code-named NV91 and NV92, despite denying claims they were canceled, as Electrek noted. Those vehicles would have run on the platform slated for Tesla's Cybercab. However, production-line underutilization caused the automaker to pivot. Now, the cheaper Tesla is expected to run on the Model 3 and Model Y platform. Based on the emerging images and footage, Electrek and the shareholder community speculate that the cheaper entry-level Tesla will be smaller than the original Model Y. "It's hard to confirm if it's indeed smaller because of the angle of the vehicle compared to the other Model Ys, but it's not impossible that the wheelbase is a bit smaller," the publication's Fred Lambert wrote, adding that the stripped-down model is also expected to have cheaper interior materials, including "maybe even no double-panned acoustic glass and a lesser audio system." Some Electrek readers were skeptical of the benefits of a lesser Model Y, with one person saying that a key reason the Model Y has been so successful is "because it has very few things but the things it has are very good." They added: "That is a problem. … The standard range already has a downgraded audio system, so what's left to take out?" Yet bringing a more affordable EV to market could help Tesla turn the tide on what has been a disappointing first half of 2025, with declining sales and volatile stocks par for the course, as Musk's involvement in politics has impacted the company's bottom line, turning off some consumers who view an endorsement of Tesla as a statement of support for the CEO's politics. Automakers such as BYD, Ford, Toyota, and Rivian have also introduced EVs or revved up their EV offerings in recent years as demand for the more eco-friendly, cost-effective vehicles has soared. The increased competition has made a dent in Tesla's buyer base while proving beneficial for consumers by contributing to a dip in EV prices. According to the International Energy Agency, EV sales rose by more than 25% last year, topping 17 million. This year, that number is expected to exceed 20 million. How much cash back would it take for you to switch to an EV? $5k $10k $20k I already have one Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. That is perhaps no surprise given that consumers can save more than $1,000 annually on maintenance costs and energy with EVs compared to gas-guzzlers. The energy savings can be particularly robust in households that install solar panels to charge their EVs rather than relying on the grid of public stations. EnergySage is one resource that connects people with vetted installers and can save them up to $10,000 on installation. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Tesla faces temporary sales suspension in California
Tesla faces temporary sales suspension in California originally appeared on Autoblog. DMV Takes Aim At Tesla's Autopilot Ads Tesla has long called its most sophisticated driver-assist features "Autopilot" and "Full Self-Driving," which is inaccurate as neither system allows for autonomous driving. Now the automaker might finally face serious consequences for this practice. First reported by Electrek, Tesla could temporarily lose its license sell cars in California amid a lawsuit brought by the state's DMV, which alleges that the automaker is misrepresenting the capability of its driver aids, constituting false advertising. The DMV is looking to suspend Tesla's ability to sell cars in California for 30 days. That would be a major blow to the automaker. Tesla Accused Of Exaggerating Tech's Capabilities According to Electrek, the California DMV has been investigating Tesla for misleading customers about the capabilities of its driver-assist tech since 2021. The agency is reportedly concerned not only about the names of the features, but about statements by the automaker, such as one claiming that such tech "is designed to be able to conduct shot and long-distance trips with no action required by the person in the driver's seat." The California DMV also flagged a public statement from Tesla in which the automaker claims that "all you need to do is get in and tell your car where to go." In response, Tesla has reportedly argued that in-car warnings for drivers to stay attentive at all times are sufficient to prevent customers from misconstruing the capabilities of its driver-assist systems. That doesn't seem to have been a convincing argument as, during a five-day court hearing on the matter, the California DMV said that it is seeking a suspension of Tesla's manufacturer and dealer license "for not less than 30 days," as well as financial restitution, with an amount to be determined at a future hearing. More Trouble For Tesla This isn't the first time Tesla has faced scrutiny from government agencies over the way it's portrayed its driver-assist tech to customers. In 2021, Jennifer Homendy, chairwoman of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), called Tesla's Full Self-Driving nomenclature "misleading and irresponsible." The federal government has also investigated Tesla driver aids multiple times in recent years, including one earlier this year of the "Smart Summon" remote parking feature involving 2.6 million vehicles. But where previous investigations have usually resulted in recalls or orders to address potential safety faults, this lawsuit could impact Tesla's already-declining sales. California is not only the biggest market for EVs in the United States, but the biggest market for new cars overall. Even a short suspension of sales is not what the automaker needs. Tesla saw a big year-over-year sales drop in the second quarter, just as top sales executives left the company. Meanwhile, its new head of sales is a former IT executive with no sales experience. And the federal government's suspension of emissions penalties means Tesla could lose business from the sale of compliance credits—a revenue stream that's often been more important to the company's bottom line than car sales. Tesla faces temporary sales suspension in California first appeared on Autoblog on Jul 21, 2025 This story was originally reported by Autoblog on Jul 21, 2025, where it first appeared.
