Latest news with #TeslaOwners
Gizmodo
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Gizmodo
Tesla's Robotaxi Could Self-Drive Your Faith in Autonomous Cars Right Off a Cliff
Apparently Tesla's robotaxi reveal is upon us, which is either a watershed moment for self-driving or a total flop. It's been a long time coming for Tesla's robotaxi, but it looks like the company's first truly driverless vehicle may be ready for a road test. According to Bloomberg, Tesla is set to reveal its robotaxi as soon as June 12, which—if you have a calendar and/or a cursory concept of time and space—you may note is pretty damn soon. While that reveal may be around the corner, the journey for Tesla's robotaxi to become a real thing you can plant your butt in has been long and winding. Elon Musk—and this is true—first mentioned the idea of Tesla-made robotaxis in *drumroll, please* 2016. That's right, it's been nearly a decade since Musk put self-driving taxis on our radar. Feel old yet? I sure do. BREAKING: Tesla launching robotaxi service in Austin on June 12th — Tesla Owners Silicon Valley (@teslaownersSV) May 28, 2025 While it's impossible to say whether June 12 will for sure be the big reveal, there is at least some evidence to support that the alleged robotaxi reveal is upon us. Some people have already reported seeing Tesla robotaxis being tested on the streets of Austin, Texas, where the driverless car is supposed to be unveiled. Musk has also taken to X, his favorite platform for saying dubious stuff, to confirm that big things are underway in Austin and that the company has been testing self-driving Model Ys, which are allegedly 'a month ahead of schedule.' For the past several days, Tesla has been testing self-driving Model Y cars (no one in driver's seat) on Austin public streets with no incidents. A month ahead of schedule. Next month, first self-delivery from factory to customer. — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 29, 2025 So, maybe this is the moment for Tesla robotaxis. I'm leaving space for Musk to actually deliver this time. It's hard to say for sure, but we'll only have to wait about two weeks to find out. One thing is for damn sure, though: whenever the moment comes, it will be just that—a moment, and a big one at that. If Tesla thinks its Full Self-Driving (FSD) beta is really ready for the big leagues, then Tesla's robotaxi will be the real test. I personally have my doubts that FSD can deliver. Tesla's beta, while functional in a lot of ways, has also been linked to quite a few controversies, including two fatal accidents, and Autopilot, its driver-assist software, has been linked to hundreds of non-fatal accidents over the past five years. That being said, I'm open to the possibility that FSD has dramatically improved over time. Tesla has pushed its software out to more and more people, which means it's collecting more and more data that could further train and refine the software. While Tesla's robotaxi test will likely be small at first, the stakes are still much higher since there won't be anyone at the wheel—or at least technically. According to one Morgan Stanley analyst who allegedly saw a preview of the robotaxi operation, the vehicles will be heavily teleoperated, meaning there will be a human monitoring the trips and capable of intervening if need be. Even with teleoperations, though, the risks are high, not just from a human safety perspective, but also for Tesla's reputation as a force in the self-driving world. As you may have noticed lately, Tesla, thanks in large part to Musk's politics and general Trump brown-nosing, hasn't really been doing so hot as a company lately, and a big flop in the self-driving arena probably won't help that. Nor will it instill much faith in the EV company's promise of bringing fully autonomous driving to the masses. Compounding those stakes is the fact that competitors like Waymo are nipping at Tesla's heels, having launched their own robotaxi programs in San Francisco, Phoenix, Los Angeles, and Austin. So, this is your moment, Musk, time to put all that hype to the test—or potentially crash and burn trying.
The Drive
19-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Drive
Tesla Quietly Starts Taking Cybertruck as a Trade-In and Confirms What We All Know
The latest car news, reviews, and features. Tesla Cybertruck owners hoping to trade their vehicles in for one of the automaker's other products have found the company unwilling to play along in recent months. For the stainless steel EV's earliest adopters, this was predictable; Foundation Series reservation holders had to agree to a clause forbidding them from selling their vehicles for a year. But Tesla's reluctance to accept Cybertruck trade-ins has persisted well beyond that, until it seemingly ended last week. Two owners have shared the automaker's offers for their Foundation Series trucks that cost $99,990 when new, and they indicate that there was a pretty good reason why Tesla was avoiding this until now. One owner, who posted a screenshot of their offer on the Cybertruck Owners Club forum, noted that Tesla returned a trade-in estimate of $65,400 for their example with just 6,211 miles recorded. Another, who drove their 2024 Cybertruck more than 32,000 miles since taking delivery, was offered $60,500. On the surface, this is pretty alarming depreciation; these Cybertrucks cost about $100,000 when new, and they've already lost around 35% to 40% in value. There are a few additional factors to consider for these particular cases. The owner of the lower-mileage vehicle said they received a $7,500 commercial EV federal tax credit with their purchase. Ordinarily, that rebate wouldn't apply to a Cybertruck Foundation Series because its MSRP was above $80,000, but vehicles purchased for business aren't subject to that cap. Second, the screenshots of both orders stipulate that the owners may transfer their Full Self-Driving (Supervised) subscriptions, which came with their trucks, to their new Tesla vehicles. FSD costs $8,000 as of this writing, but since these owners would be selling to and buying from Tesla, the company may have worked that into its own estimates. Tesla Cybertrucks sit parked in a storage lot in San Diego, California on April 11, 2025. Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images Still, whatever incentives Tesla may have offered upon sale don't change the fact that these were effectively $100,000 vehicles with no tax rebate available to personal buyers. The barely-used one has sunk by $34,590 in about 18 months, while the other vehicle, which has obviously been driven much harder, has lost $39,490. Remember that Tesla CEO Elon Musk once famously predicted that his company's vehicles would become 'appreciating assets' because of their autonomous future-proofing. It's reasonable to guess that part of the steep decline may have something to do with Tesla's current trouble selling Cybertrucks. As of today, the inventory tracking website Tesla-info reports that there are 4,322 unsold Cybertrucks already manufactured and waiting to be sold to buyers in the United States. Tesla would likely rather shift those than take in additional stock. On top of that, Tesla could've been turning away owners because it didn't want to eat that huge drop in value. And you've got to imagine that selling new Cybertrucks to the public becomes an even harder task once potential buyers learn how much they could stand to lose in a year. Setting all that aside (we haven't even touched on the monumental impact of Tesla's flagging popularity), electric pickups are hardly stellar at holding their value in the first place. Kelley Blue Book predicts that a 2024 F-150 Lightning Platinum—the most expensive trim Ford sells—with 5,000 miles would lose $30,707 in a year against its $87,090 starting price. That's a 36% drop. One 2024 Lariat in Pennsylvania with 7,608 miles cost at least $79,000 when it was new, and it's now listed at $62,500. Twenty-ish percent is certainly better, but don't forget—that's what a dealer is trying to sell the truck for, not what it's worth. This practically new 2024 Chevrolet Silverado RST is going for $76,995, even though it would've cost around $96,500 new. As for Cybertruck owners, those who are suffering but would prefer to stick with Tesla now have a way out. It may not be the investment some of them hoped it would be, but then the reality of the Cybertruck owner experience has proven to be quite different from the hype. Got tips? Send 'em to tips@ Adam Ismail is the News Editor at The Drive, coordinating the site's slate of daily stories as well as reporting his own and contributing the occasional car or racing game review. He lives in the suburbs outside Philly, where there's ample road for his hot hatch to stretch its legs, and ample space in his condo for his dusty retro game consoles.
CBS News
17-05-2025
- Automotive
- CBS News
North Bay Tesla owners express disdain for Musk's role in Trump administration through bumper stickers
Tesla owners in a North Bay town are expressing their disdain for Elon Musk and his role in the Trump administration with bumper stickers and more. When Mill Valley resident David Lown takes his now 'modified' Tesla Model 3 for a spin, he wants others on the road to see his anti-Elon bumper sticker and his carefully crafted letters. "I used silver duct tape to create Tesla-formatted letters," said Lown. The back of his car clearly states how he feels about the CEO of Tesla and the Trump Administration. "It says 'resist' ending in the Tesla T and 'I bought this vehicle before we knew how mad he was'," said Lown. He's a medical doctor who has worked for decades in California's public healthcare systems, helping to improve the lives of marginalized populations. "The fact that they were trying to shut down USAID, which helps people around the world, that is horrific and terrible," said Lown. Lown has seen plenty of anti-Elon stickers around town, including 'Elon Ate my Cat', 'Even my dog hates Elon', and 'Acquired Pre-Elon Meltdown'. After protests across the country erupted at Tesla dealerships, Tesla announced last month that its first-quarter sales dropped 13%, marking its worst performance in years. But the company's stock price has recently rebounded. "It's not coincidental the stocks have had such a huge rebound here because Tesla needed its biggest asset back, and that's Musk," said Dan Ives, a managing director at Wedbush Securities and senior equity research analyst. Musk announced he's spending less time starting this month at DOGE, the newly created Department of Government Efficiency, while Tesla's board is exploring a new pay deal for Musk. "There's still going to be long-term permanent brand damage, but he needed to contain the damage. That's why he needed to rip the band-aid off and get out of the Trump administration," Ives said. Lown was hoping for the board to oust Musk. Like many other Tesla owners, he says simply selling it would be too costly and a waste. He wants others to keep the movement going. "I've seen several people get out their cameras and take pictures of the back of our car. It makes me proud," Lown said. He'll take the small wins on the road for now.
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Elon Musk Says For 3 Years Straight, Headlines Would 'Trash' Tesla And Sales Went Up But All Press Is Good Press — 'So I Guess Keep Trashing Us'
You've heard the saying: all press is good press. It's a favorite line in Hollywood, politics—and apparently, Silicon Valley boardrooms. Fortunately, Elon Musk seems to agree. The world's richest man has never been one to sweat the headlines, even when they've taken aim at Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA). And lately, they've been taking aim a lot. But if Musk is rattled, he's not showing it. In fact, he's been through worse—and came out smiling. Don't Miss: 'Scrolling To UBI' — Deloitte's #1 fastest-growing software company allows users to earn money on their phones. Maker of the $60,000 foldable home has 3 factory buildings, 600+ houses built, and big plans to solve housing — In a 2022 interview with "Tesla Owners Silicon Valley", Musk reflected on years of relentless bad press. He recalled that from around 2017 through 2019, the media ran a "non-stop hate stream." "It was like, hate. Like Tesla's a fraud. Tesla's a failure. Fraudulent failure." Then he added, "I remember... for like three years straight the headlines would just be trashing Tesla all over and over and over again. And our sales went up." "So I guess keep trashing us," he added. "At the end of the day, people were like, 'Oh yeah, I just kept reading about Tesla. I can't remember what the article was about, but I know I read about Tesla 17 times.' He acknowledged there's "some truth" to the old saying that "all press is good press." Trending: Here's what Americans think you need to be considered wealthy. Tesla has faced a rough 2025. On March 10, its shares plunged 15%, marking its worst single-day performance since September 2020. This sharp fall wiped out over $800 billion in market capitalization from Tesla's December peak. Sales have slumped and Musk's political controversies—have sparked protests and even vandalism at Tesla dealerships. To top it off, rumors swirled that Tesla's board wanted Musk replaced, although Musk and the board quickly shut those down as "absolutely false." Musk, regardless, is determined not to fail. Back in a 2012 "60 Minutes" interview, when asked about overcoming failures, he famously said: "I don't ever give up. I'd have to be dead or completely incapacitated."Today, despite sagging numbers, Tesla's stock did climb from the recent lows. Investors are betting on a turnaround—and Musk has pledged to focus more on Tesla moving forward. It's a familiar story in Musk's entrepreneurial playbook: critics pile on, markets wobble, and Musk doubles down. Whether it's building rockets, boring tunnels, or selling electric cars, he's thrived on defying expectations. Even if those expectations come wrapped in negative headlines. As Musk himself put it, bad press might just keep the brand in the spotlight. Keep the stories coming. Musk's not giving up—and he's betting Tesla's customers won't either. Read Next:Donald Trump just announced a $500 billion AI infrastructure deal — . Image: Shutterstock UNLOCKED: 5 NEW TRADES EVERY WEEK. Click now to get top trade ideas daily, plus unlimited access to cutting-edge tools and strategies to gain an edge in the markets. Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga? TESLA (TSLA): Free Stock Analysis Report This article Elon Musk Says For 3 Years Straight, Headlines Would 'Trash' Tesla And Sales Went Up But All Press Is Good Press — 'So I Guess Keep Trashing Us' originally appeared on © 2025 Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Almost Half of Tesla Owners Say Their Cars Have Been Damaged Intentionally
Tesla vehicles have become lightning rods for people's disdain for CEO Elon Musk, with many simply mocking or ridiculing drivers. A new report suggests some are taking it a step further; almost half of the respondents say their vehicles have been 'intentionally damaged,' with a bulk of the reports coming from the south. Further, almost three-quarters of Tesla drivers feel they're at risk of being targeted in the future. Guardian Service also reports that over half of Tesla owners say their insurance premiums have risen, whether their vehicle was damaged or not. Though many remain happy with their Teslas, 19 percent are now rethinking their decision to buy a Tesla instead of the myriad other electrified options from other automakers. Though Tesla stock has continued to climb steadily over the past few months, this study suggests onlookers are still displeased with Elon Musk and are taking it out on Tesla owners. Forty-four percent of Tesla owners report their vehicles have been intentionally damaged, with 46 percent of those reports coming from the south. 22 percent of Tesla owners in the northeast report their Teslas have seen purposeful harm done, while 21 percent out west report the same. The Midwest remains the 'safest' place to own a Tesla, with only 11 percent of owners there reporting damage. A full 72 percent of Tesla owners say they 'believe they're more likely to be targeted for vandalism than other drivers.' Fifty-four percent of owners say they have installed or enabled video surveillance on their vehicles out of fear, with 21 percent reporting they already had surveillance enabled. Twenty-five percent of respondents to the survey say they have caught someone purposefully damaging their vehicle. According to those who say their cars were damaged, the average repair bill is $1,900. Gen Z Tesla drivers seem to face the most hostility, as sixty-one percent of Tesla owners in this age bracket say their cars were damaged intentionally, with an average repair bill for this age range being $2,113. Millennials and older drivers paid closer to $1,730. Sixty-one percent of Tesla drivers say their insurance premiums have risen, with the average annual increase at $340. Over half - 53 percent - say they expect their insurance premiums to rise this year, too. Beyond the actual damage, 43 percent of Tesla owners report people gesturing rudely toward them or giving them dirty looks as they drove by. As a result of the damage, gestures, and looks, 66 percent of Tesla drivers feel anxiety leaving their cars unattended, and 60 percent say concerns over vandalism have led them to avoid driving as much or avoid certain areas altogether. It's impossible to truly know another person's mindset, but causation and correlation are strong here. If Elon's actions truly are spurring this spate of crime. In that case, it's regrettable that people's feelings about him are manifested as damaging another person's property.
