Author: Declan Murphy

Tesla has published a patent that outlines a potential software-based method to extend the usefulness of its older Full Self-Driving computer hardware, addressing long-standing concerns among owners about hardware obsolescence. The patent, published on Jan. 15, 2026, under the title Bit-Augmented Arithmetic Convolution (US20260017503A1), describes a technique that allows higher-precision artificial intelligence models to operate on lower-precision hardware. The filing was first highlighted by Tesla-focused commentator tslaming on the social media platform X. See also: Tesla Rolls Out FSD v14.2.2 With Incremental Improvements to Driving Behavior Tesla introduced its Hardware 3 (also known as AI3) computer in 2019, when most…

U.S. auto safety regulators have granted Tesla a five-week extension to respond to an investigation examining whether the company’s vehicles violated traffic laws while operating with its Full Self-Driving (FSD) system engaged. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said on Friday it had extended Tesla’s deadline for key responses until Feb. 23, after the automaker requested additional time to manually review thousands of records to identify incidents potentially relevant to the probe. See also: Tesla Rolls Out FSD v14.2.2 With Incremental Improvements to Driving Behavior The investigation forms part of broader federal scrutiny of Tesla’s advanced driver-assistance technology, as…

Tesla has launched a seven-seat version of the Model Y in the United States, reintroducing a third-row seating option for its best-selling electric SUV alongside a set of minor feature updates for higher-end variants. The seven-seat configuration is now available through Tesla’s U.S. online configurator as a $2,500 option and is offered exclusively on the Premium All-Wheel-Drive Long Range Model Y. The third row, as in earlier versions, is designed primarily for children, reflecting limited legroom and headroom. See also: MotorTrend Names Tesla Full Self-Driving Best Driver Assistance System for 2026 Tesla first announced plans for a seven-seat Model Y…

Tesla is preparing to expand its in-house auto insurance business to Tennessee, according to a regulatory filing that would mark the company’s second new U.S. market for the product in as many months. Tesla Property & Casualty has filed a new private-passenger auto insurance program with Tennessee regulators, with a proposed effective date of March 1, 2026, according to documents first reported by insurance industry publication Coverager. The filing states that the company has “submitted a new private-passenger auto insurance program in the state,” outlining coverage and pricing features tailored to Tesla vehicle owners. If approved, Tennessee would become the…

Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (Supervised) software was named the Best Driver Assistance System at the 2026 MotorTrend Best Tech Awards, reflecting improved assessments of the automaker’s driver assistance technology by the U.S. automotive publication. MotorTrend said the latest Version 14 of the software showed marked progress compared with earlier releases that had drawn criticism in previous evaluations. In announcing the award, the publication wrote: “After years of criticizing Tesla’s erratic driver assistance tech, we’ve been converted into acolytes by the latest release, V14.” It added that the system “now delivers a hands-off experience that routinely navigates from driveway to parking spot—and…

Tesla has expanded its Model Y lineup in Europe with the introduction of a new rear-wheel-drive variant that combines reduced equipment with a larger battery, giving it the longest driving range of any Model Y currently on sale. The new Model Y Standard Long Range RWD has appeared in Tesla’s German and Dutch online configurators at a price of €46,990, following the launch of a stripped-down entry-level Model Y priced at €39,990 in Germany last October. The new variant is not currently available in the UK. See also: Tesla Suffers Broad European Slump in 2025 Despite Model Y Refresh According…

A new lawsuit has been filed against Tesla following a fatal crash in Idaho that killed four members of the same family, with the plaintiffs alleging that the automaker’s driver-assistance technology failed to keep the vehicle in its lane and contributed to the accident, The Independent reported. The complaint, filed by surviving family member Nathan Blaine, relates to a Sept. 1, 2023 crash involving a 2022 Tesla Model X on Idaho State Highway 33. According to the filing, the vehicle abruptly crossed into an oncoming lane while navigating a gentle curve and collided head-on with a semi-truck, killing Jennifer Blaine,…

Tesla reported a second consecutive annual decline in global electric vehicle deliveries in 2025, with a sharper drop in the fourth quarter underscoring mounting pressure from intensifying competition and weaker demand in key markets. The U.S. electric vehicle maker delivered 418,227 vehicles globally in the fourth quarter of 2025, according to figures released by the company. That represented a decline of about 15% from a year earlier and left Tesla well short of the more than 570,000 deliveries needed in the quarter to prevent a full-year contraction. See also: Tesla Reports Record Expansion of Global Supercharger Network in 2025 Tesla…

Tesla has produced its six-millionth electric drive unit at its Nevada manufacturing complex, marking another major production milestone for the U.S. automaker as it continues to scale operations across its global footprint. The company said on Wednesday that the milestone was reached at its Gigafactory Nevada site, where drive units — integrating the motor, gearbox and power electronics into a single system — are manufactured for use in Tesla vehicles assembled in North America. The announcement was shared by Tesla’s manufacturing team on social media, accompanied by images of the milestone unit. See also: Tesla’s 4680 Battery Plans Face Headwinds…

Tesla said on Tuesday that it has produced its 9 millionth electric vehicle at its Shanghai factory, marking another milestone for the U.S. automaker’s largest manufacturing base worldwide. The milestone vehicle was a Model Y, which the company said remains the world’s best-selling passenger vehicle. The Model Y topped global passenger vehicle sales in 2023, according to data from JATO Dynamics, and retained the top position in 2024 based on figures from Statista, Tesla said. The Shanghai-made vehicle underscores the factory’s central role in Tesla’s global production and export strategy. See also: Tesla Cybertruck Earns IIHS Top Safety Pick+ Rating…

Tesla has launched an internal engineering review into the performance of the Cybertruck’s oversized windshield wiper, according to service documentation shared by vehicle owners, indicating the issue extends beyond isolated repair cases. The review centers on the Cybertruck’s single-blade “gigawiper,” a distinctive design intended to clear the vehicle’s large, steeply angled windshield. Service records show that while routine repairs and component replacements have been carried out, Tesla has escalated the matter for further engineering analysis, suggesting potential systemic considerations related to design or performance. See also: Tesla Cybertruck Earns IIHS Top Safety Pick+ Rating for 2025 According to the service…

U.S. auto safety regulators have opened a new review into the design of emergency door releases on certain Tesla Model 3 vehicles, following a petition alleging that the manual release mechanism may be difficult to locate or operate during emergencies. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said its Office of Defects Investigation began evaluating the issue on Dec. 23 after receiving a petition from Georgia-based Tesla owner Kevin Clouse, who raised concerns about the accessibility of the mechanical door release in 2022 model-year vehicles. According to NHTSA documents, the petition claims the emergency release is “hidden, unlabeled, and not…

Tesla has taken a step toward introducing a longer, six-seat version of its Model Y electric SUV in Europe, after regulatory filings showed the vehicle has received EU type approval, signalling a possible market launch in early 2026. The approval documents, first highlighted by European Tesla watcher @eivissa on social media platform X, indicate that the vehicle — known as the Model Y L — has cleared the certification process required for sale in the European Union. The move would mark the first expansion of the Model Y L beyond China, where the vehicle is already being produced. See also:…

Tesla’s Model Y Standard, the most affordable version of the electric SUV, has exceeded its official driving range estimate in independent real-world testing, outperforming higher-priced variants in distance covered under the same conditions. According to testing conducted by Edmunds, the 2026 Model Y Standard travelled 337 miles (542 km) in its standardized EV Range Test, surpassing the vehicle’s EPA-rated range of 321 miles (516 km). Edmunds said the result makes it the longest-range Model Y the publication has tested to date. See also: Tesla Launches Lower-Priced Model Y Standard in UK at £41,990 The finding contrasts with earlier Model Y…

Tesla has begun testing driverless robotaxis without human occupants in Austin, Texas, nearly six months after launching a limited service that still relied on safety drivers, Chief Executive Elon Musk said. “Testing is underway with no occupants in the car,” Musk wrote in a post on X over the weekend. Tesla has not said when it plans to operate a fully driverless commercial ride-hailing service. The company launched a Robotaxi-branded service in Austin in June and later introduced a similar offering in the San Francisco Bay Area, both with human supervision. https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/2000302654837371181 Regulatory hurdles remain. Under current Texas rules, autonomous…

Tesla’s U.S. sales fell to their lowest level in nearly four years in November, even after the automaker introduced lower-priced versions of its best-selling models, according to data cited by Reuters. Citing figures from Cox Automotive, Reuters reported that Tesla sold about 39,800 electric vehicles in the United States in November, down 23% from 51,513 units a year earlier. The company last posted similarly low monthly sales volumes in 2022. The decline followed the end of the $7,500 federal EV tax credit in September, after policy changes under the Trump administration. See also: Tesla Rolls Out 2025 Holiday Software Update,…

Unplugged Performance has introduced the UP-RW Cyber Road Warrior, a forged 20-inch wheel engineered specifically for the Tesla Cybertruck. The model extends the company’s Road Warrior series — previously developed for the Model 3 and Model Y — with a focus on durability, aerodynamic efficiency and compatibility with heavy-duty electric vehicles. Built from 6061-T6 forged aluminum, the UP-RW carries a 1,450kg load rating intended to meet the Cybertruck’s high mass, torque and towing requirements. The company said the forging process produces a denser and more robust structure than conventional cast wheels, helping withstand extreme mechanical stress. Real-world durability goals include…

Tesla has begun rolling out a new feature within its mobile application called the Charging Passport, which provides owners with a personalized, annual summary of their electric vehicle (EV) charging activities and associated road trips. The feature, which is being deployed incrementally, transforms raw charging data into a more visual and engaging year-in-review format. The Charging Passport functions as a gamified summary, compiling key metrics and awarding owners with “Charging Badges” for achieving specific milestones or visiting designated Supercharger locations. See also: Tesla Rolls Out New Financing and Leasing Incentives in U.S. Year-End Sales Push Examples of the digital badges…