Musk talks about Tesla's €25k vehicle that will be built in Berlin
@Gf4Tesla
Tesla's ambitious plan to create an affordable electric vehicle known as the "next-gen" or "Model 2" has taken a new directional shift towards Europe. Those at Elon Musk's recent appearance at Giga Berlin say that Germany will be the latest production site for this much-anticipated EV.
This latest pivot towards Europe follows an earlier change that saw Tesla's production strategy migrate from Mexico to Texas, indicating a fluid approach to finding the optimal manufacturing locale for the new model.
Giga Mexico to Giga Texas, and Now Giga Berlin
The journey of Tesla's $25,000 electric car has been one of adaptability and strategic adjustments. Insights into these shifts came to light in Walter Isaacson's biography of Elon Musk, which narrated Tesla's evolving strategy. The initial blueprint placed Giga Mexico in a pivotal position until logistical challenges prompted Musk to reconsider, resulting in Tesla eyeing Giga Texas.
Despite these changes, Giga Mexico remained a significant piece of Tesla's production puzzle until Musk's latest indications suggest that Giga Berlin could become a central hub for the European market's demands — catering to the Europeans' appetite for smaller cars and affordable, sustainable mobility.
Giga Berlin's Role in Tesla's Strategy
With the announcement in Berlin, Tesla seems to be refining its strategy once more, adapting its production base to not only meet market demands but also optimize manufacturing processes.
During the third quarter earnings call, Musk outlined the production vision for the Model 2, which stands in stark contrast to Tesla's more radical Cybertruck. This next-gen vehicle is pegged to have a conventional approach in manufacturing yet aims to set a new benchmark in efficiency and production volume.
Embracing Efficiency and Affordability
Musk's articulation of the Model 2 as "utilitarian" underscores a pragmatic vision: a functional, efficient, and affordable EV that still upholds Tesla's design ethos. This approach aims to achieve unprecedented economies of scale and bring electric vehicles to a broader market.
Tesla's choice to leverage Giga Berlin for Model 2 production is more than a geographic decision — it's a strategic play that could enhance the company's presence in Europe. This move aligns with Tesla's pursuit of operational efficiency, market-specific tailoring, and, possibly, advantageous manufacturing incentives available in the region.
Tesla's persistent focus on a $25,000 EV signifies a steadfast commitment to making electric vehicles more accessible. Should Tesla overcome the economic barriers, the Model 2 has the potential to redefine mainstream vehicle ownership, propelling the adoption of EVs globally.
Elon Musk thanks all Giga-4 employees. A really big praise to the entire Giga-4 team for the really great work that you do again and again and create great cars. Giga-4!@teslaeurope@Gf4Tesla@elonmuskpic.twitter.com/Oudp0ntiZs
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.
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.
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!
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.
@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.
![Tesla Safety Numbers Continue to Improve Alongside Feature Advancements [Vehicle Safety Report]](https://www.notateslaapp.com/img/containers/article_images/2021/emergency-braking.jpg/fa9cced4bf8348db88679602faa5dae5.jpg)
![Tesla is Expanding the Free FSD Trial For Some [Updated]](https://www.notateslaapp.com/img/containers/article_images/2024/trial_extension_tescalendar.jpg/a788359dad50b67c79e117776014e4b5/trial_extension_tescalendar.jpg)
