In a post on X, Tesla listed its achievements since 2018. Perhaps most interesting, Tesla stated it has successfully deployed two Optimus robots in one of its factories. The deployment is a pivotal moment – the first autonomous robots are now beginning to work in factories. This is one of the first examples of the industrial use of humanoid robots.
Optimus
Optimus, Tesla’s humanoid robot, has been designed to take on tasks that require a high level of precision, as well as everyday tasks typically performed by human workers. Tesla has invested heavily in Optimus, and just in the last two years, three major design revisions of Optimus, and four revisions of just its hands have been done. Tesla is placing Optimus pretty highly on its list of difficult challenges to tackle.
Elon Musk has previously mentioned he hopes to have Optimus perform tasks that are boring, repetitive, or dangerous for humans, such as picking up groceries, fixing or building cars, or even building houses.
Autonomy
One of the most unique things about Optimus is the fact that it uses the same core technology that lets Tesla’s cars drive themselves while supervised – as its core software. This enables Optimus to navigate autonomously – first around the labs and offices, and now around Tesla’s factories.
The adaptability of Tesla’s AI in this unique situation is a testament to Tesla’s engineering prowess, as well as FSD’s technology stack to work in unique environments – not on the road. Because Optimus uses AI that’s similar to Tesla’s FSD, it has clearly benefitted from the same updates that FSD V12 has benefitted from, with rapid advances recently moving FSD from its long-time Beta status to its newfound Supervised status.
As Tesla continues to refine Optimus and FSD, we’ll see some drastic advances in autonomous robots. Tesla has mentioned it plans to begin offering Optimus as a purchasable product in the future as it enters the humanoid robot market.
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Tesla has officially filed construction permits for its first Semi Megacharger site located near the 405 and 110 freeway corridors in California. This location is just outside Carson, CA, near the Port of Long Beach—one of the busiest ports in the U.S.
The site, located at 19300 S Hamilton Avenue, will primarily feature Megachargers designed to support Tesla’s electric truck fleet. Additionally, Tesla plans to include a small lounge facility with vending machines, restrooms, and other amenities for drivers.
Semi-Public
This site is considered “public” because it’s the first Megacharger location built on publicly accessible land, conveniently situated off a major highway. Previous Megacharger sites have been installed at private corporate facilities, making them inaccessible to the general public.
Despite being in a public location, Tesla plans to keep these Megacharger units exclusive to the Tesla Semi, unlike Superchargers, which are gradually opening to other EV manufacturers. While the Megacharger standard—MCS—is an open standard like NACS, Tesla’s Megachargers will remain off-limits to other trucks.
Megacharger
The Megacharger features a large, square-shaped connector, a sharp contrast to the NACS design. This is due to the unique operating specifications of the MCS connector, which supports charging between 750kW and 1,000kW. This incredible power could potentially add up to 400 miles (of the Semi’s 500-mile range) in just 30 minutes of charging.
With such rapid charging capabilities, the Tesla Semi’s downtime will be drastically reduced, allowing for more efficient operations and less time spent charging.
With volume production expected to begin in late 2025 or early 2026, the Tesla Semi is poised to become one of the company’s biggest products. We’re excited to see more Semis on the road—and hopefully, many more Megacharger sites in the near future.
The Cybertruck has finally received an official crash safety rating—and to the surprise of many critics, it’s outstanding. Tesla has announced that the Cybertruck earned a 5-star Overall Crash Safety Rating from the NHTSA.
Even more remarkable, the Cybertruck holds the lowest overall probability of injury and the lowest rollover risk of any pickup truck ever tested by the agency. Skeptics have long questioned its safety, arguing that its rigid design lacks crumple zones and could endanger occupants. But these results prove otherwise. Let’s break it down!
The Test
Sawyer Merritt
The 2024 and 2025 Tesla Cybertruck—both the AWD and Cyberbeast variants—were tested under the New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) standards, which evaluate vehicle crashworthiness and restraint systems through various types of impacts.
Tesla has long prioritized safety, not only through advancements in active safety with FSD but also by designing vehicles with robust structural protection. The Cybertruck incorporates the Cybercell structural battery and internal crash cans to improve crash performance.
Its front and rear Gigacastings are engineered to channel impact forces into internal structures that collapse, functioning similarly to crumple zones in traditional vehicles. This design directs energy away from occupants and critical components. First, the internal crash cans absorb the force, and if needed, the Gigacasting collapses—both of which are replaceable, making the Cybertruck more repairable when compared to other modern vehicles.
Euro NCAP
Sawyer Merritt
While the Cybertruck has now earned a North American NCAP rating, it has yet to receive a Euro NCAP rating. Tesla has not submitted the Cybertruck for testing in Europe, as its sharp-edged stainless steel panels do not currently meet European regulations.
Tesla does plan to bring the Cybertruck to Europe eventually, but doing so will likely require significant exterior modifications to soften its edges and comply with safety standards. Once those changes are made, the Cybertruck should have no trouble acing the Euro NCAP tests.
After such a long wait, it’s great to finally see the Cybertruck’s crash test results—and with a 5-star rating, Tesla deserves credit for its impressive engineering. Safety has always been a cornerstone of Tesla’s design philosophy, and the Cybertruck continues that tradition as one of the safest vehicles on the road.
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