Latest news with #Cybertrucks
Euronews
a day ago
- Automotive
- Euronews
Tesla readies for possible robotaxi launch this weekend
Tesla CEO Elon Musk said public rides of his company's first robotaxi might be available as early as June 22 in the city of Austin, Texas. Musk said on his social media platformX that the date could shift because the company is 'being super paranoid about safety.' Some X users reported that they were invited to be some of the first to use the robotaxi on its launch this weekend. The Cybercab, the name for Tesla's robotaxi, had also been spotted near Austin, Texas, earlier this month. Euronews Next has reached out to Tesla to confirm whether the launch is still happening but did not receive a response at the time of publication. The launch could come despite a group of Democratic Texas lawmakers asking Tesla to delay the robotaxi debut 'in the best interest of both public safety and building public trust in Tesla's operations'. Is the Cybercab ready? Crijn Bouman, CEO of Rocsys, a company that develops service infrastructure for autonomous vehicles, told Euronews Next that Tesla's potential launch is important because it 'will emphasise that the robotaxi is real.' 'It will come with the realisation that… autonomous driving just works,' he said. 'It's difficult to say whether [Tesla is] ready or not, but everybody's excited and for sure everyone will be watching'. For Tesla's launch to be successful, Bouman said the company will have to have not only the robotaxi ready but also all of the infrastructure around it. That means scaling up to '1000' vehicles, a 'couple dozen' service hubs to clean and charge the cars and finding regular maintenance services for them, he added. The company, which used to 'control the narrative' on autonomous vehicles, is now facing competition from Waymo, the first company in North America to scale up a robotaxi business, Bouman said. 'If the whole operation isn't included, they won't be close to Waymo at all,' he said, noting that Waymo Rideshare sends a safe, clean robotaxi to a pickup location in five minutes. 'We likely won't see that on [Sunday]'. Might not be enough to 'turn the tide' of public opinion The Cybercab's potential launch comes at a difficult time for Tesla as stocks have plummeted over the last six months withfactories and Cybertrucks being vandalised. Tesla is also facing an investigation from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in the US after the company's Full Self-Driving (FSD) system was allegedly involved in multiple crashes, including one where a pedestrian was killed. Bouman doesn't believe that an eventual robotaxi launch will 'turn the tide' of public opinion towards Tesla unless the company starts to be more transparent. 'You have to show that the service is actually working at scale… normally the bar is that a robotaxi has to be ten times more safe than a human driver to gain the trust of the public,' he said. '[Tesla] has to show that [with] … a third party analysis on the data'.
Miami Herald
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
Tesla Pauses Cybertruck, Model Y Production to Cut Backlogs
Tesla will temporarily halt operations at its Austin, Texas Gigafactory later this month, a move it says will allow it to run maintenance at the plant. But the move also will permit it to draw down increasingly bloated inventories of both the slow-selling Cybertruck pickup and the recently updated Model Y SUV. Though it remains the largest U.S. producer of battery-electric vehicles, the automaker has undergone a sharp decline in sales this year, something analysts blame on both rising competition and the backlash that's hit Tesla due to CEO Elon Musk's political shift to the hard right. The production pause will come just days after the Austin plant is set to roll out the first Tesla robotaxi – something Musk has declared essential to the automaker's future. But a group of Texas lawmakers have called on Tesla to put the launch of its new driverless ride-sharing service temporarily on hold. Tesla revealed plans to pause production at the Texas Gigafactory during a staff meeting this week, according to Business Insider. The Austin team was told the move was meant to give Tesla time to performance maintenance at the factory. "Most automakers have a summer shutdown for a couple weeks which they use to work on their machinery," said Sam Abuelsamid, lead analyst with Telemetry Research. "I wouldn't totally rule out they'll do some maintenance," he added, "but I'm skeptical that's the only reason" This marks the third time that production of the Cybertruck will have been paused over the past 12 months, but the first halt for the updated Model Y launched around the end of the first quarter. In Farmington Hills, Michigan, scores of unsold Cybertrucks have been stored in the parking lot of a now-closed Bed Bath & Beyond store. The situation reportedly is repeated at locations around the country as demand for the electric truck continues to slow. Shortly after it was first revealed in November 2019, Tesla claimed to have received 1 million advance reservations, complete with $100 deposits. That led Tesla to tool up the Austin plant to produce as many as 250,000 of the trucks annually. But demand hasn't come close. The automaker confirmed selling than 39,000 of the pickups all last year and the trendline has continued declining this year, S&P Global Mobility reporting just 7,126 Cybertrucks were registered during the first quarter of 2025. To put that into perspective, that's 10% fewer than the 7,913 Ford F-150 Lighting EVs registered during the same period. There are indications another critical Tesla product line may be fizzling, despite a major midcycle refresh. The Model Y has been the automaker's best-selling product and the update, known insider Tesla by its codename, Jupiter, was expected to reverse declining sales. Though Tesla only reports production and delivery numbers on a quarterly basis, preliminary registration data does not look encouraging, said Abuelsamid. "All indications are that the refreshed Model Y isn't selling as well as expected, nor even as well as the old one did last year." Tesla remains the EV segment's 800-pound gorilla in the U.S. market, but its share is now below 50% and continuing to fall. New EV registrations, overall, fell 4.4% in April, marking the first monthly decline in 14 months, according to S&P. But the majority of brands in the battery-electric sector actually reported gains. Chevrolet and its upscale sibling Cadillac were up by triple digits. "It was mostly Tesla," said Sam Fiorani, lead analyst with AutoForecast Solutions. The automaker reportedly suffered a 16% year-over-year dip in registrations in April, despite the launch of the new Model Y. A variety of factors appear to be in play. To start, the Model Y update didn't go far enough, said Fiorani, contending that "a ground-up makeover" was what Tesla really needed. If anything, Tesla simply doesn't have enough product to compete as more and more competition come to market, he and other analysts agree. The automaker continues to delay introducing a new entry model to compete with the likes of the Chevrolet Equinox EV that starts in the mid-$20,000 range after factoring in federal incentives. Then there's Musk's active move to the political right which became increasingly obvious after his October 2022 takeover of social media site Twitter and his subsequent role as head of the controversial Department of Government Efficiency under Pres. Donald Trump. That's alienated many traditional Tesla buyers, Fiorani and Abuelsamid agreed, leading to protests and boycotts. Even before Musk shifted his focus away from politics last month he was signaling to investors that the company's future would become less about EVs and more about technologies such as AI, humanoid robots and autonomous ride-sharing. Earlier this month, Musk said he was "tentatively" scheduling a rollout of the first 10 to 20 "robotaxis" on June 22 from the Austin factory – though he warned the date could be pushed back because, "We are being super paranoid about safety." The first of those driverless vehicles will be modified versions of the new Model Y, though Tesla continues development of a new model, the CyberCab, specifically designed for the driverless service. Musk isn't the only one "paranoid" about safety. A group of Democratic lawmakers from Texas have requested Tesla delay the robotaxi launch "in the best interest of both public safety and building public trust in Tesla's operations." They want Tesla to wait until a new law, revising the state's earlier autonomous vehicle regulations, goes into effect on September 1. The new rules will require, among other things, that companies like Tesla report any failures, have a limp-hone mode for any vehicle that may suffer glitches while in operation, and have a plan of action in the event of a more serious crisis. Even if it declines to delay the robotaxi launch, the Texas lawmakers are hoping to get a commitment from the automaker that it will obey the new guidelines without waiting for September. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Int'l Business Times
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Int'l Business Times
Tesla Plans Temporary Shutdown of Cybertruck and Model Y Production Lines
A Tesla Cybertruck is displayed at a Tesla dealership on December 20, 2024 in Corte Madera, California. Tesla is temporarily pausing production of its Cybertruck and Model Y at the Gigafactory in Austin, Texas. According to workers familiar with the plans, the shutdown is scheduled to begin the week of June 30 and last for one week, with normal operations expected to resume shortly after. The company informed employees that this pause will allow for essential maintenance and upgrades to the production lines. According to BusinessInsider , staff members were given the choice to either take paid time off or participate in optional training sessions and cleaning tasks during the break. This marks at least the third production pause at the Austin plant in the past year. A similar shutdown took place in late May, and another brief halt occurred in December 2024 due to a reported battery supply issue. Back in April 2025, Tesla reduced the pace of Cybertruck production and shifted some employees to different roles within the company. Tesla has not officially commented on the upcoming pause, but insiders say the move is intended to help boost overall output in the future. While the company didn't say which lines will see increased production, Tesla is also making preparations for its planned robotaxi launch in Austin. 🚨BREAKING: "NO PRODUCTION" TESLA GIGAFACTORY TEXAS $TSLA There has been no production of the Model Y and Cybertruck all week, with the framing of the north side building expected to be completed next week! — Tesla Archive (@tesla_archive) June 2, 2025 Tesla Faces Slow Sales and Rising Inventory in 2025 CEO Elon Musk recently stated that the service could begin as early as June 22, using 10 to 20 Model Y vehicles. During earlier pauses, Tesla offered training sessions to improve factory culture and workforce skills. Workers who remain on-site next week may see similar opportunities. Industry experts note that temporary production halts are not uncommon, especially during slower sales seasons like summer. Major automakers such as Ford and General Motors have paused lines in the past to manage inventory and update systems. In fact, Ford suspended production of its F-150 Lightning for seven weeks in late 2024. However, this pattern of pauses is relatively new for Tesla. According to workers who spoke with Business Insider, production pauses like these were uncommon until recently. The company is reportedly dealing with slower sales and growing inventory, even after introducing discounts and new versions of the Cybertruck that qualify for federal tax credits. Tesla saw a 13% decline in vehicle deliveries during the first quarter of 2025. The company is set to release its second-quarter results next month, Electrek said. By the end of March, public filings showed that fewer than 50,000 Cybertrucks had been delivered. Musk has warned that the launch date could shift due to safety concerns but remains optimistic. "We are being super paranoid about safety," he said. Originally published on © {{Year}} All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Tesla Stock Slides as EV Maker Reportedly Plans Weeklong Production Halt at Austin Plant
Tesla shares slid Tuesday as a report emerged the company plans to pause production of Cybertrucks and Model Y vehicles at its Austin, Texas plant for one week starting later this month. Austin is also the site of Tesla's highly anticipated robotaxi launch, which CEO Elon Musk said last week is 'tentatively' planned for June 22. With Tuesday's losses, Tesla shares have lost about a fifth of their value since the start of the (TSLA) shares slid nearly 4% Tuesday as a report emerged the company plans to pause production of Cybertrucks and Model Y vehicles at its Austin, Texas plant for one week starting later this month. The electric vehicle maker told employees the stoppage will occur the week of June 30 and allow for maintenance on production lines, according to a report from Business Insider. It would be the third production halt within the past year, the report said. Tesla did not immediately respond to an Investopedia request for comment. Austin is also the site of Tesla's highly anticipated robotaxi launch, which CEO Elon Musk said last week is 'tentatively' planned for June 22. The company has said it expects to start with 10 to 20 vehicles, and grow the fleet in the coming months. With Tuesday's losses, Tesla shares have lost about a fifth of their value since the start of the year. The stock has taken a hit in 2025 amid worries about slumping sales, tariffs, and as controversy swirled around Musk's political activities. Read the original article on Investopedia
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Officials upset with Tesla over strange situation at local mall: 'Currently occupying several rows of parking'
The Tesla Cybertruck has underperformed in sales, creating an untenable storage problem for the unsold vehicles. As detailed by Carscoops, a report from Crain's Detroit Business revealed that dozens of unsold Cybertrucks and other Tesla models are being stored at "a run-down mall" in Farmington Hills outside of Detroit, and local officials are far from pleased. The vehicles reportedly "are currently occupying several rows of parking bays at the Hunter's Square shopping center," but using the land for vehicle storage is a violation of city code. It appears that the surplus of Cybertrucks could be coming from the brand-new showroom that Tesla recently opened near Hunter's Square in West Bloomfield. The lot that houses the vehicles is home to an open Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant and used to house both a Torrid as well as a Bed, Bath & Beyond. The Cybertruck is a unique innovation that combines the functionality of a truck with the performance of an electric vehicle. It is by far a more climate-friendly option compared to traditional gas-powered trucks because it produces significantly less harmful carbon pollution. Despite its extensive benefits and positive impact on the environment, the Cybertruck "failed to live up to sales expectations since its official debut in late 2023," per Carscoops. Forbes reported that only 40,000 were sold in 2024, falling well short of Tesla's prediction of 250,000. To make matters even more concerning for the company, the Ford F-150 Lightning recently outperformed the Cybertruck in sales. The dwindling number of Cybertrucks and other Tesla models being sold could cause a setback in the fight against human-induced climate change, as the continued adoption of electric vehicles is a crucial step toward reducing air pollution and creating a healthier future. Charmaine Kettler-Schmult, director of planning and community development for Farmington Hills, told Crain's Detroit Business that the shopping center landlord has already been informed of the violation of housing the unsold Cybertrucks in the lot. However, she noted that the enforcement process "takes time." Tesla has also made attempts to make the Cybertruck more accessible, releasing a single-motor, rear-wheel drive, entry-level model for $69,990 in April. Owners of other Cybertruck models have been offered perks like free supercharging and discounts. If you're looking to make a positive impact on the environment while still enjoying the benefits of a powerful and versatile vehicle, it's still worth considering making your next car purchase an electric vehicle or truck. Every purchase makes a difference in the quest for a cleaner environment. Do you think Tesla's vehicles have lost some of their appeal? Definitely No way Some models — but not others For some drivers — but not others Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
