Tesla Unveils New Wheel Caps for Cybertruck: A Fresh Look with Pirelli Scorpion ATR [VIDEO]

February 21, 2024

By Kevin Armstrong

New wheel caps for Cybertruck

Not a Tesla App

Tesla has devised a solution to its Cybertruck tire issues by introducing new base wheel caps. This move directly responds to the challenges previously encountered with the vehicle's aero wheel covers and tire combinations.

Cybertruck’s base wheels caps. They will come with Pirelli Scorpion ATR all seasons instead of the Goodyear AT’s. pic.twitter.com/nlJdFyszF3
— Nic Cruz Patane (@niccruzpatane) February 21, 2024

A short video posted on X gives us a first look at the new wheel caps. The caps appear to be paired with the original Goodyear AT Tires that were designed to fit the first edition wheel covers. However, Nic Cruz Patane, who posted the video, states that Cybertruck’s new base wheel caps will come with Pirelli Scorpion ATR all seasons instead of the Goodyear ATs.

Pirelli Takes the Wheel

By opting for Pirelli Scorpion ATR all-season tires for the Cybertruck, Tesla is taking a strategic pivot towards enhancing the vehicle's performance across various driving conditions. The Pirelli Scorpion ATR is renowned for its versatility, offering superior traction and durability, making it an ideal match for the Cybertruck's robust design and off-road capabilities.

Incorporating the Pirelli Scorpion ATR all-season tires into the Cybertruck's design is a step towards sustainability. These tires are known for their low rolling resistance, which can contribute to increased energy efficiency and reduced environmental impact.

Addressing the Achilles' Heel

While innovative, the initial design of the Cybertruck's aero wheel covers faced criticism for causing excessive wear on tire sidewalls. This issue was first spotlighted by T Sportline - Tesla Upgrades & Accessories, leading to a broader discussion about the impact of design choices on vehicle durability. Tesla's decision to switch to Pirelli tires and introduce new wheel caps is a clear response to these challenges, aiming to enhance both the aesthetic appeal and functional reliability of the Cybertruck.

This thoughtful redesign aligns with Tesla's ethos of continuous innovation and its pursuit of excellence in electric vehicle manufacturing. Tesla's introduction of new base wheel caps and the transition to Pirelli Scorpion ATR all-season tires for the Cybertruck are more than just aesthetic upgrades. They represent a quick and comprehensive response to challenges. This approach not only addresses the immediate needs of Cybertruck owners but also positions Tesla as a forward-thinking leader in the automotive sector, ready to tackle the challenges of tomorrow.

Update: It looks like these new wheel covers were the ones that were supposed to be the non-premium wheels, although they were expected to come with different tires that didn’t have the same markings on the sidewall. It’s not immediately clear whether this is a mix of the base wheel covers with the premium tires, or if Tesla plans to use these new wheel covers as a permanent or temporary replacement for the Cybertruck aero wheels that were causing additional tire wear.

Tesla Posts Job Listing for TeleOp Engineer for Robotaxi & Optimus

November 26, 2024

By Karan Singh

Not a Tesla App

Tesla has listed an interesting new job position at its Engineering Headquarters in Palo Alto, California. This position is for a C++ Software Engineer, working on Teleoperation. What exactly is being Teleoperated? Why Optimus (listed as Tesla Bot), and Robotaxi/Cybercab of course.

The job listing was just posted on November 24th, 2024 and is the first of a pair of jobs related to the deployment of both Robotaxi and Optimus.

C++ Software Engineer, Teleoperation, Tesla Bot & Robotaxi

This position will involve building an application in Unreal Engine to allow remote operators to interface with both vehicles in the Robotaxi fleet and Optimus humanoid robots. Part of the job will include backend architectural and frontend UX decisions, focusing on usability, security, reliability, and high performance.

Tesla is looking for someone with practical experience in Unreal, C++, and Python, as well as experience working on both Linux and Windows in networking, filesystems, and storage. If this job sounds like a fit for you, you can take a look at the position here.

Backend Software Engineer, Tesla Bot & Robotaxi

The second position related to Robotaxi and Optimus is for a Backend Software Engineer. This person will likely work alongside the other position, designing and implementing the components required for autonomy features and processes. In addition, they will build automated tests, monitoring, and metric systems to ensure seamless operation.

For this position, Tesla is looking for someone with experience in C++, Go, and Python, as well as Linux and virtualization tools like Kubernetes, Terraform, Ansible, or Puppet. Oh, and a dash of skill in databases such as PostgreSQL, DynamoDB, ElasticSearch, or Redis. If that’s your plate, here’s the link.

It’s interesting to see Tesla begin recruiting for these positions - in fact, Tesla is recruiting 35 new positions just for Optimus under Engineering or Manufacturing Engineer titles, which means a heavy emphasis on building out new teams to solve new problems.

Tesla and Rivian Settle 4-Year-Long Lawsuit Out of Court

November 26, 2024

By Karan Singh

Not a Tesla App

Tesla and Rivian have been in court since 2020. Tesla alleged that ex-employees stole and transferred trade secrets. Tesla also alleged that Rivian was encouraging Tesla employees to depart and bring said trade secrets with them on their way to Rivian.

Tesla is now seeking to have the suit dismissed on December 24th of this year, assuming the settlement terms are reached.

Initial Lawsuit

The initial lawsuit in 2020 involved several employees, including a Health and Safety Manager, a Charging Network Manager, and two Human Resources Recruiters, who all departed Tesla to move to Rivian. Tesla alleged that these employees took trade secrets, confidential materials, and proprietary information when they joined Rivian.

The next year, Tesla added to the suit, alleging that Rivian stole technology related to Tesla’s next-gen batteries. That would’ve been the 4680-cells back then - now the updated Cybercell which is shipping in the Cybertruck.

Out-of-Court Settlement

On November 25th, Tesla informed the California state court that it would be settling the matter with Rivian out of court. This means that Tesla and Rivian have come to an agreement outside of the court case, and Tesla will be dropping its lawsuit. This is good for both companies—extended legal battles are extremely expensive, especially with highly paid, specialized lawyers on both sides of the battle arguing it out for nearly four years.

It's good to see that both companies are moving forward. Rivian stock saw a positive bump in yesterday’s trading from this news—approximately 13%. We’re looking forward to seeing what both companies do in the future. It’d be best to see both as allies in electrifying the planet and supporting adventuring rather than at each other’s throats in court.