NHTSA expands probe into Tesla Full Self-Driving systems
The NHTSA has escalated its investigation into Tesla's Full Self-Driving after reports that the system has failed to detect hazards in reduced visibility; the probe has covered 3.2 million vehicles and has been moved to engineering analysis.
Tesla increases Robotaxi fares in US markets
Tesla has increased Robotaxi fares in Austin, raising the per‑mile charge to $1.40 and reducing the flagfall to $3.00, and has signalled broader US expansion with hiring and fleet growth ahead of Cybercab production.
Tesla opens first customer-facing Megacharger in California
Tesla has opened a customer-facing Megacharger in Ontario, California, has begun deploying a planned 66-site US network with 37 sites targeted by end-2026, and has offered 750 kW at the site while competitors have advanced MCS charging deployments.
Tesla Semi factory nears completion in Nevada
Tesla has neared completion of a Nevada factory intended to support mass production of Semi trucks at a 50,000-unit-a-year capacity, with upgraded range, charging and autonomous capabilities.
Tesla builds integrated EV battery supply chain
Tesla has developed an integrated United States battery supply chain, has commissioned a Texas lithium refinery, cathode and electrode facilities, and has expanded 4680 and LFP cell production while its stationary storage business has reported faster margin growth.
Structural advantages give Chinese EV makers a cost edge
Rhodium Group's report has found that structural efficiencies — notably vertical integration, greater scale and lower overheads — have given Chinese electric-vehicle manufacturers a cost advantage that has outweighed direct state subsidies, affecting competitiveness of Western manufacturers.
Tesla rolls out Grok AI to Australian EVs
Tesla has begun rolling out Grok, an xAI-developed in-car assistant, to Hardware 3 vehicles in Australia and New Zealand, enabling real-time question answering and voice navigation via software version 2025.44.25 or later.
Tesla sues California DMV over FSD advertising ruling
Tesla has filed suit against the California Department of Motor Vehicles to overturn a ruling that has found its Autopilot and Full Self-Driving marketing to be false advertising after the DMV has required revisions to its promotional language.
Judge upholds $243m verdict against Tesla
A federal judge in Miami has denied Tesla's bid to overturn a $243 million jury verdict in a lawsuit arising from a 2019 Autopilot crash that has killed a passenger and has seriously injured a survivor.
Tesla FSD Supervised fleet logs 13 billion kilometres
Tesla has reported its FSD Supervised fleet has driven over 13 billion kilometres and has exceeded one million users; it has introduced subscription pricing, expanded to right-hand-drive markets and has produced a steer-and-pedal-less Robotaxi prototype.
Tesla to Add xAI Grok Chatbot to Cars in Europe
Tesla has announced plans to deploy xAI Grok across the UK and eight European markets; xAI has faced regulatory probes under the Digital Services Act, and Tesla has seen a 27% decline in European EV sales, per ACEA.
Ford adopts 48-volt system for next EV pickup
Ford has announced its next-generation electric pickup has adopted a 48-volt electrical architecture and has said the Universal Electric Vehicle platform has been designed to reduce parts and costs and to support a $30,000 small pickup scheduled for 2027.
Chinese manufacturers lead global EV market
Chinese automakers have established leadership in electric vehicles, with BYD having overtaken Tesla in 2025 and China having exported 7.1 million vehicles; domestic sales and exports have increased and Chinese-made models have risen in markets including Australia.
Tesla to Offer FSD by Subscription Only in Australia
Tesla has confirmed that from April 2026 it has ceased selling Full Self‑Driving as a lifetime purchase in Australia and New Zealand and has made the software available exclusively by subscription for new orders placed after 31 March 2026.
EPA reverses greenhouse-gas endangerment finding
The EPA has reversed its greenhouse‑gas endangerment finding, undermining regulatory bases for fuel‑efficiency targets, EV incentives and state emissions programmes, and has prompted US automakers and analysts to reassess product, compliance and market strategies.
Apptronik raises $520m at $5bn valuation to scale humanoids
Apptronik has raised $520 million at a $5 billion valuation and has secured Google as co-investor; it has begun pilot deployments with Mercedes‑Benz, GXO and Jabil, and has committed to scale Apollo production and expand in Austin and California.
Tesla VP Raj Jegannathan departs after 13 years
Tesla has announced Vice‑President Raj Jegannathan's departure; a 13‑year executive, he has overseen IT and AI infrastructure and has previously led North American sales amid declining automotive revenue and pressure to revitalise EV performance.
US EV Pullback Boosts China's Auto Market Influence
US automakers have scaled back EV investment while Chinese manufacturers have expanded exports and market share, prompting concerns about competitive displacement, tariffs and strategic recalibration as legacy producers have recorded substantial EV-related write-downs.
Pilot to install Tesla Semi heavy-duty chargers
Pilot has agreed with Tesla to deploy V4 chargers for Tesla Semi heavy-duty trucks at select sites across five states, and initial sites have been scheduled to open in summer 2026 with stalls capable of delivering up to 1.2MW.
Tesla shifts investment to AI and robots with $20bn plan
Tesla has announced a $20 billion capex plan and has ended production of the Model S and Model X, signalling a strategic pivot towards AI, driverless services, humanoid robots and expanded chip and battery manufacturing capacity.
Tesla sold $430m in Megapacks to xAI in 2025
Tesla has sold $430m of Megapack backup batteries to xAI, which has represented about 3.4% of its energy revenue, while Tesla's energy division has climbed 27% to $12.8bn.
Tesla to invest $2bn in xAI
Tesla has agreed to invest about $2 billion in xAI as part of a $20 billion financing round and has entered a framework agreement to evaluate AI collaborations, with the investment being subject to customary regulatory conditions.
Tesla brand value declines 36% to US$27.6bn
Brand Finance has reported that Tesla's brand value has declined 36% in 2025 to US$27.61bn, citing weaker product pipeline, relatively higher vehicle prices and the CEO's political activity as contributors to reduced brand strength.
Tesla projects nationwide US robotaxi network by 2026
Tesla has said it will deploy a widespread US robotaxi network by the end of 2026 and has initiated limited services in Austin and San Francisco amid regulatory scrutiny and consumer scepticism.
Tesla AI5 chip design nearing completion
Tesla announced AI5 chip design is nearly complete, with AI5 expected to deliver 50x performance over AI4 and AI6 in early development; deployment to vehicles expected within 24 months.
US automakers expand into energy-storage market
US automakers are converting battery capacity to grid and residential energy storage, leveraging factory investments amid uncertain EV sales and rising electricity demand from data centres.
Tesla to cease sale of Full Self-Driving package
Tesla will stop selling its Full Self-Driving package from 14 February and offer it by subscription only; implications for prior purchasers and hardware-limited vehicles remain unresolved.
Tesla readies Standard Range Model Y for China
Tesla briefly listed a Standard Range Model Y on its China site, indicating a launch with reduced features and range; pricing and sales impact amid BYD competition remain uncertain.
Nvidia expected to challenge Tesla's FSD in several years
Musk said Nvidia's Alpamayo models could pressure Tesla's Full Self‑Driving in five to six years, noting long‑tail safety challenges and delayed manufacturer adoption.
Norway records 95.9% electric new car share in 2025
In 2025 Norway registered 95.9% of new cars as electric, with Tesla accounting for nearly 20% of registrations; total new passenger car registrations rose 40% year‑on‑year.
BYD set to surpass Tesla as leading global EV seller
BYD is projected to lead global electric vehicle sales in 2025 after reporting 2.26 million battery-electric units, compared with Tesla's estimated 1.6 million deliveries for the year.
Automakers recalibrate EV strategies amid market shift
US automakers are reducing EV investment, reallocating capacity to trucks, hybrids and SUVs after incentive changes and weaker EV demand; significant write-downs and strategy adjustments are underway.
Waymo halts San Francisco robotaxi service after blackout
Waymo suspended driverless ride-hail operations in San Francisco after a widespread power outage; city services responded and restoration continued while Tesla said its supervised service was unaffected.
California judge rules Tesla Autopilot marketing deceptive
A California administrative law judge found Tesla's Autopilot and Full Self‑Driving marketing deceptive; the DMV may suspend sales licences and gave Tesla 90 days to amend or remove misleading language.
Tesla shares hit record as robotaxi testing advances
Tesla shares reached a record as driverless vehicle testing fuelled investor interest; deliveries and automotive revenue declined, while competition, policy changes and brand risks persist.
Robotaxi market expansion and company rollouts, 2025
Waymo expanded robotaxi operations across multiple US and international markets in 2025, while Zoox, Tesla and Chinese firms increased pilot services amid regulatory, safety and commercial challenges.
Tesla confirms driverless Robotaxi tests in Austin
Tesla reported driverless Robotaxi tests are under way in Austin; the company previously operated limited services with safety supervisors. Shares rose 3.6% to $475.31.
Tesla to sell 6-seater Model Y L internationally in 2026
Tesla plans a 6‑seat Model Y L with an 88.2 kWh battery, 681 km WLTP range and 2,163 kg kerb weight; European approval suggests a potential Q1 2026 launch.
DHL Supply Chain adds first Tesla Semi to fleet
DHL Supply Chain has taken delivery of its first Tesla Semi after a California pilot, reporting a 500-mile range, 1.72 kWh/mile efficiency and estimated 50-tonne annual emissions reduction.
Rivian highlights AI and autonomy amid sales slowdown
Rivian will host an Autonomy and AI Day to present in‑house software and autonomy plans as electric vehicle sales slow and investors seek future growth drivers.
Tesla develops first Supercharger site in Northern Territory
Tesla has listed a Supercharger site in Millner, Darwin; the territory's first such facility, aligning with rising EV registrations and broader expansion of Tesla's Australian charging network.
Tesla Shanghai factory reaches four million vehicles
Tesla's Shanghai Gigafactory produced its four millionth electric vehicle in under six years, contributing nearly half of global deliveries and remaining a key export hub for Europe and Australia.
Tesla Shanghai Gigafactory reaches four million vehicles
Shanghai Gigafactory produced its four millionth vehicle on 8 December 2025; output growth has slowed marginally, reflecting a modest increase in interval between recent production milestones.
GM consolidates product and technology under Anderson
GM has centralised product, software, battery and manufacturing functions under Chief Product Officer Sterling Anderson to unify vehicle development, while several senior technology executives have departed amid the restructuring.
EV charging standards: NACS and CCS2 market differentiation
NACS and CCS2 are regional EV charging standards: NACS prevailing in two-phase North America, CCS2 in three-phase markets. Japan remains contested; China uses distinct local plugs.
RDW asks public not to pressure over Tesla FSD review
Dutch vehicle regulator RDW asks the public to desist from pressuring it while it assesses Tesla's FSD Supervised for national authorisation; decision possible in February pending safety demonstrations.
Tesla China sales hit three-year low amid local competition
Tesla's October China deliveries fell to a three-year low and market share contracted amid intensified local competition and price pressure; firm faces product refresh needs despite Q3 revenue growth.
Tesla installs 75,000th Supercharger stall in Australia
Tesla reached 75,000 Supercharger stalls with a glacier-blue unit in Tasmania; the global network spans c. 7,900 sites, supported by V4 hardware increasing power density and stall capacity.
