Tesla's Week 51/24 Highlights: Model Y Launch in January, Musk for AfD, Hardware 4 Outages, European Sales
In the automotive world, Tesla continues to make waves with its upcoming updates to the Model Y. Here's a breakdown of what you need to know.
Elon Musk's German Politics
Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, has been no stranger to German politics, having called designated Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Economics Minister Robert Habeck "fool" in German on a certain date. Musk has also been an ally of former President Donald Trump.
Production and Sales of the Updated Model Y
The updated Model Y is set to begin production in the third quarter of 2025, with sales starting in the fourth quarter of the same year. The initial manufacturing sites will be Tesla's existing factories, with a particular emphasis on Gigafactory Shanghai for the new long-wheelbase Model Y L variant. However, U.S. production of the Model Y L may not start before the end of 2026, and it might never be produced for the U.S. market due to strategic focus on self-driving vehicles in North America.
A Hardware Glitch Affecting Hundreds of Tesla Cars
In a concerning development, there has been a reported problem with failing vehicle computers in new electric cars from Tesla for several weeks. The issue seems to be with the fourth generation Tesla computer for autopilot and infotainment, in its revision AI4.1, and appears to have affected only the USA and China so far. The problem appears to be due to a new subversion of the central Tesla computer for autopilot and infotainment, introduced in 2023 (HW4 or New AI4).
Model Y Refresh and the Chinese Market
The Model Y Juniper refresh may include a version with three rows of seats, possibly with an extended wheelbase, but only for the Chinese market.
Tesla's Struggles in Europe
In Europe, Tesla has been facing challenges this year, with the company's European Gigafactory located in Germany. Tesla must sell around 515,000 electric cars in the fourth quarter to exceed the value of 2023 for the whole year, as announced in the Q3 report. However, Tesla's sales in Europe have been dwindling, with registrations going down by around 13.7 percent to just under 283,000 compared to 2023.
In conclusion, the updated Model Y is on the horizon, but Tesla is currently grappling with a hardware glitch affecting hundreds of cars. The company's European sales are also facing a downturn, and the future of the Model Y L in the U.S. market remains uncertain.
