One of the First Tesla Cybertrucks Will Be Up for Auction at the Petersen Automotive Museum

By Kevin Armstrong
The Peterson Automotive Museum will auction off a low-VIN Cybertruck
The Peterson Automotive Museum will auction off a low-VIN Cybertruck
Ryan Zohoury

The Peterson Automotive Museum in Los Angeles is a must-see for automotive enthusiasts and Tesla aficionados alike. What better day to see it than October 7th? Petersen Automotive Museum is gearing up for its 29th Annual Gala; despite a star-studded lineup, the Cybertruck will be getting all the attention. A 2024 Tesla Cybertruck, one of the most anticipated vehicles of our time, is up for auction.

The Cybertruck Experience

The unique, low-VIN Cybertruck model, touted for its "ultimate durability and passenger protection," offers the winning bidder the chance to be among the first proud owners of this groundbreaking EV. Given the prestige of the Petersen Gala, with its high-profile attendees and substantial ticket prices - individual seats going for $1,750, tables at $17,500, and Premier Tables at a whopping $30,000 - expectations are that the Cybertruck will easily fetch bids over $250,000.

While the exact date for Tesla's official Cybertruck delivery remains under wraps, the speculation is high. This Petersen Gala auction Cybertruck might be one of the first to hit the roads, marking a significant milestone in automotive history.

Hundreds of beautiful, historical and unique vehicles are housed in the Peterson. However, since the Tesla exhibit opened, Cybertruck has been the fan favorite. The Peterson has essentially acted as the first showroom for the Cybertruck, so it is fitting that it has access to this low-vin version.

A Night of Luxury, Legacy, and Legends

The gala, hosted by automotive legend and longtime TV host Jay Leno, promises to be more than just about the Cybertruck. Those lucky enough to attend will also have the chance to bid on experiences like a VIP Tour of Jay Leno's extensive car collection, a luxurious stay in the Scottish Highlands, a deep dive into automotive history with the Hispano Suiza Experience in Barcelona, and an exclusive journey through some of the world's most private car collections in Scottsdale.

For those passionate about motorsports, the gala will honor two legends: Chip Ganassi and Bobby Rahal. Ganassi, an American businessman and Motorsports Hall of Fame inductee has been a vital part of the North American auto racing scene for over three decades. On the other hand, Bobby Rahal's illustrious 25-year career saw him dominating in Formula 1, Can-Am, LeMans/IMSA, and Indy Cars, with victories in the 1986 Indy 500 and the Daytona 24 Hour and Sebring 12 Hour endurance races.

With all eyes on October 7th, the Petersen Automotive Museum's 29th Annual Gala is set to be an event for the history books. Whether you're there to witness the Cybertruck auction, indulge in the luxurious offerings, or honor motorsport legends, one thing's sure — it's an evening that promises to drive conversations for years to come.

Tesla to Allow Drivers to Display License Plates in Vehicle Visualization

By Karan Singh
Rendering of what Tesla's license plate feature could look like
Rendering of what Tesla's license plate feature could look like
Not a Tesla App

Tesla update 2024.38 has started rolling out to several regions and vehicles. Thanks to Tesla hacker Greentheonly, we have a behind-the-scenes look at some new features coming to Teslas.

License Plate Display

According to Greentheonly, it looks like Tesla may soon let you display your actual license plate in the vehicle’s visualization on the screen. In our article, The Most Request Tesla Features, several readers suggested displaying the vehicle’s license plate in the visualization instead of a blank, white plate.

It looks like Tesla will be doing just that, at least in China. Green found references that appear to conclude that you’ll be able to display your vehicle’s plate on screen. This will likely be user input, so you could have it say anything you’d like, and it doesn’t have to be your actual license plate.

For many owners, who may find it difficult to remember their license plate, this could serve a practical purpose in addition to adding to the visualization's realism.

While Green was only able to say it’ll be available in China, we expect this is due to China’s software development team working on it and that it’ll eventually be released worldwide.

We’ve seen several features originally released in China and later applied to everyone. Some of these include the Air Quality Index display, the trip meter that displays traffic along your route, and even the ability to change your vehicle’s color.

While code for this feature was found in update 2024.38, we may not be turned on in China yet. We suspect this feature may be a strong candidate for Tesla’s upcoming holiday update.

FSD Hardware Version Display

As part of the 2024.38 update, Tesla has now made it easy to determine whether your vehicle includes Hardware 3 or Hardware 4. You can now simply navigate to Controls > Software and tap Additional Vehicle Information. In addition to other hardware information about your vehicle, your Autopilot hardware version will now be listed as well.

You can see whether your vehicle has HW2.5, HW3, or AI4. This in-car display is useful, but if you don’t have access to the vehicle, you can always use our guide on how to determine the hardware version of a Tesla.

New Battery Health Test & Service Mode Improvements

Green found some additional things as well. There’s a new and improved Battery Health Test. The new test will show you how your car scores compared to similar vehicles in the Tesla fleet.

In addition, maintenance records can now be permanently stored “in the car.” It doesn’t appear that this feature is activated yet, but it’s likely in active development with some parts leaking out in the 2024.38 update.

Tesla has included various Service Mode improvements and new visualizations in this update.

Leaked Images of the Tesla Model Y Juniper Refresh

By Karan Singh
Mr Li on X

It’s been a while since we saw the last batch of leaked images of the Model Y Juniper refresh. That inspiring photo, alongside other images, set the blood of many concept artists on fire. We saw a ton of awesome concepts of Project Juniper, and now there are even more leaked images.

Mr Li on X came across some covered-up Project Juniper vehicles recently and he managed to get various shots of the vehicle.

Juniper Images

This front image reveals what looks like two rows of lights, possibly confirming the front light bar for the Model Y refresh — similar to the one on the Cybercab.

The rear side has a lot of lights on it!
The rear side has a lot of lights on it!
Mr Li on X

The rear side shows a ton of brake lights, but it’s not clear why. While it looks like the Model Y refresh will also feature a rear light bar similar to the Cybertruck, there isn’t strong evidence of that in this photo.

Mr Li on X

There's an obvious set of lights at the bottom, so it looks like the Model Y refresh will be similar to the new Model 3 where the bottom lights can operate as brake lights when the one-piece tail lights and trunk are up.

Mr Li on X

In the last photo, we see that the overall form factor of the refreshed Model Y will remain unchanged, and Tesla is focusing the changes on the front and rear ends of the vehicle, much like the Model 3 refresh. However, in this one shot, we can also see what appears to be red light leaking out of the rear camera cover opening, possibly due to the rear light bar.

The Model Y is not only Tesla’s best-selling vehicle but also the world’s best-selling car in 2023. This year, it’s expected to be the best-selling vehicle in the United States and again in the world, so this refresh will be huge for Tesla.

We expect most of the interior to remain the same as the Model 3 refresh, which saw substantial improvements in quality, noise reduction, and performance. Check out our wishlist of more things we hope to see in the Model Y refresh.

Dominic’s Concept

Dominic's Concept, in all its glory.
Dominic's Concept, in all its glory.
@DominicBRNKMN on X

@DominicBRNKMN made another fantastic set of concepts based on these new images. Given he had the most accurate Model 3 Highland concept before the official launch, we’re pretty sure his latest work be close here as well.

@DominicBRNKMN

We’re super excited to see the eventual reveal of Project Juniper, which is expected in the first half of 2025. However, expect to see a few more leaks before production kicks off at Giga Shanghai.

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