Tesla teases the hands of its upcoming robot, Optimus
Tesla
Elon Musk teased the Optimus humanoid robot prototype at Tesla’s annual shareholder’s meeting. A new image of the robot was revealed ahead of the official unveiling on September 30th, giving us a better idea of what the humanoid robot may look like.
The image features the hands of the Optimus prototype. The image serves as a promotion for the upcoming AI Day Part II event which aims to recruit AI talent to the company.
At the shareholder meeting, Elon reiterated that he believes that the humanoid robot business will become bigger than Tesla’s automotive business:
“I suspect Optimus is going to be more valuable than the car long-term. It will turn the whole notion of the economy on its head.”
Elon previously mentioned that Optimus could solve the labor shortage and shift the economy to reduce labor costs. Tesla plans to leverage its expertise in power electronics, batteries and AI expertise to build a revolutionary product.
Elon initially claimed that the robot would perform simple and repetitive tasks, including manufacturing operations. Tesla eventually plans to improve the robot over time, enabling it to perform more complex tasks for both commercial and consumer applications.
Earlier this year, Elon announced: “Tesla AI Day Part II” with “many cool updates.”
The second AI Day was initially supposed to be held a year to the day after the first one, but it was pushed back to September 30 to give Tesla more time on the robot, according to Elon.
Elon says that Tesla aims to start production in 2023. This is a very ambitious timeline for such an ambitious project, but Elon has said that Tesla is prioritizing the development of the Optimus humanoid robot in 2022 over other products.
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Tesla has updated its Model Y lineup in Europe, introducing new standard configurations while discontinuing the limited-edition Launch Series. With the new variants now available, European customers will have more choices and cheaper options to pick from.
The Launch Series and some of its exclusive features will no longer be offered—except in the UK, where it remains available alongside the new lineup.
New Models Introduced
Tesla’s new Model Y lineup in Europe includes three main variants. The prices vary slightly from country to country.
Rear-Wheel Drive (RWD): Priced at €44,990, this model is the most affordable new Model Y, but it also has the shortest range and is missing a few features available on other trim levels.
Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive (LR RWD): Available for €49,990, this version is essentially the same as the RWD model, but with a larger battery. It has seen a €1,000 price increase compared to the outgoing Long Range RWD model.
Long Range All-Wheel Drive (LR AWD): At €52,990, this model has seen a price drop of €2,000, making it a better deal than the previous LR AWD Model Y. This is also the only new Model Y to come with most of the same features as the Launch Series, including additional speakers, a subwoofer, premium materials inside the cabin and improved acceleration. Acceleration boost should also become available for this model, letting it match the performance of the Launch Series.
All Model Y variants come with all the improvements that we’ve discussed about the new Model Y, including the new front and rear light bars, improved aerodynamics, ventilated seats, improved heat and sound isolation, and the 8-inch rear touchscreen. Some exclusive options, like the Midnight Cherry Red paint, appear to no longer be available. However, Tesla has already said that they’ll be introducing new paint options for the Model Y in North America.
Compare Model Y Variants
Here’s how the various Model Y variants compare to each other:
Launch Series
LR AWD
LR RWD
RWD
Range (WLTP)
353mi (568km)
364mi (568km)
387mi (622km)
311mi (500 km)
Acceleration (0 to 60 mph)
4.1s (includes Acceleration Boost)
4.8s
5.6s
5.9s
Audio
15 speakers + subwoofer
15 speakers + subwoofer
9 speakers
9 speakers
Interior
Premium materials
Premium materials
Fabric door trim
Fabric door trim
Weight
4,402 lbs (1,997 kg)
4,402 lbs (1,997 kg)
4,191 lbs (1,901 kg)
4,250 lbs (1,928 kg)
Power Consumption
15.3 kWh/62 mi (100km)
15.3 kWh/62 mi (100km)
14.2 kWh/62 mi (100km)
13.9 kWh/62 mi (100km)
Tow Hitch
Included
Optional
Optional
Optional
Supercharging Power
250 kW max
250 kW max
250 kW max
175 kW max
Charging Speed
165 mi (266 km) in 15 mins
165 mi (266 km) in 15 mins
165 mi (266 km) in 15 mins
148 mi (238 km) in 15 mins
Battery Warranty
8 years or 120k mi
8 years or 120k mi
8 years or 120k mi
8 years or 100k mi
Extras
FSD + Acceleration Boost + Puddle Lights + LS badges + Free Upgrade to Helix wheels
None
None
None
Availability
Late February
March
June
May-June
Price
€60,990
€52,990
€49,990
€44,990
Launch Series Ends
Not a Tesla App
The Launch Series, which debuted just weeks ago in Europe, has now been phased out. This limited-edition model was priced at €60,990 and included a suite of premium features comparable to a bundle deal you may find with other products. It came equipped with Full Self-Driving (FSD), Acceleration Boost, and exclusive badging on the rear liftgate, door sill plates, and puddle lights.
While the Launch Series is no longer available for new orders in most European countries, customers can still get a similar vehicle by opting for the Long Range AWD model and manually adding premium features like FSD. Acceleration Boost, which was standard in the Launch Series, is expected to become available for purchase once these vehicles are delivered or soon afterward. However, some exclusive elements, such as badging and trim details, will remain unique to the discontinued edition.
For now, the UK remains an exception, still offering the Launch Series alongside the newly introduced models.
Performance Model Still to Come
With Tesla now introducing the expected variants of the refreshed Model Y, one notable absence is the Performance model. While the Launch Series was fast due to the Acceleration Boost addon, there’s no doubt the Performance version will be in a league of its own.
What we saw Tesla do with the 2024+ Model 3 Performance variant was more than just using binned motors. The vehicle featured unique bumpers, a spoiler, an improved suspension, sport seats, Track Mode V3 and other features that made the vehicle stand out compared to the Model 3 AWD.
The Performance version of the new Model Y is expected to become available later this year, however, expect it to carry a $5-$8k premium over the AWD model.
Other Regions to Follow
As Europe phases out the Launch Series, other regions are expected to see similar changes. With the other models now revealed, owners in other regions have a better idea of whether they should buy the Launch Series or wait for the additional models to arrive.
Tesla naturally adjusts its offerings based on market demand, and if sales of the Launch Series remain strong in other parts of the world, Tesla will likely wait it out a little longer before offering the other models.
Tesla’s VP of Charging, Max de Zegher, recently confirmed on X that the first 500kW Supercharger sites are coming soon. These next-generation chargers will not only support the Cybertruck charging at 500kW, but they’ll also be more cost-effective to deploy than previous models.
Late last year, Tesla indicated plans to accelerate Supercharger deployments, with many future locations featuring V4 cabinets. Some sites are already being equipped with V4 posts, offering improved charging capabilities, but the V4 cabinets allow Tesla to get even more power to each stall.
500kW Charging
Tesla recently enabled 325kW charging for the Cybertruck at compatible Superchargers across North America - specifically those with V4 posts and V3 cabinets, which are typically referred to as V3.5 Superchargers. The upcoming V4 Superchargers will also have a V4 cabinet, which will take this even further—delivering up to 500kW per stall.
While the increase to 325kW has already improved charging times by approximately 3–5 minutes, depending on the vehicle’s state of charge (SoC), the jump to 500kW is expected to have an even greater impact. With this upgrade, the Cybertruck could potentially charge from 10% to 80% SoC in under 30 minutes—an impressive feat for a vehicle with a massive 123kWh battery pack.
The vehicle’s ability to maintain a high level of charge current can make an even larger difference, so we’ll have to see what the charge curve looks like at these new 500kW chargers.
One of the biggest advantages of the V4 cabinet is its streamlined design. It can power up to eight charging posts—twice as many as the V3 cabinet—reducing site complexity and minimizing the amount of electrical work needed between the cabinet and the posts. This results in a smaller footprint and a more efficient installation process.
Tesla has optimized deployments by pre-mounting Supercharger posts on factory-made concrete bases, making them ready for quick installation. With this approach, Tesla is able to install each post for less than $40,000, according to Max de Zegher.
This is a fraction of the $225,000 per stall cost recently revealed in a contract awarded to Revel Charging. This massive price difference benefits both Tesla and site owners, allowing for faster and more cost-effective network expansion.
Lower costs also mean potential savings for customers, who will enjoy cheaper and faster charging. With the first full V4 sites set to roll out soon, it will be exciting to see how quickly the Cybertruck can charge. Looking ahead, future Tesla vehicles with 800V high-voltage architecture could also take advantage of these next-generation charging speeds.
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