TESLA RAISES PRICES AGAIN

EV Channels Review

The latest Tesla news covers significant price increases across the Model S and X, with base models now starting at $85,000 and $95,000 respectively. These hikes are attributed to supply chain pressures, particularly microcontroller chip shortages, and strong demand for the refreshed models. The reviewer notes that while Tesla's ultimate goal is to lower EV prices, current market conditions necessitate these increases. The refreshed Model X, featuring the controversial yoke steering wheel, is still undergoing testing and has yet to officially launch, with Plaid versions expected soon. Meanwhile, the Model Y is finally rolling out to Europe, initially shipping from Gigafactory Shanghai and now including the HEPA filter with Bioweapon Defense Mode as standard, a feature that has also been confirmed for US-built Model Ys. The video also touches on the delayed rollout of the next-generation Model Y with 4680 battery cells. On the software front, Tesla has released Full Self-Driving (FSD) Beta v9, a significant overhaul focusing on a vision-only system, removing radar entirely. Early impressions suggest improved visualizations and performance, though a wider release timeline remains uncertain. Finally, Tesla is advancing its battery technology with a new patent for a lithium extraction process using table salt, potentially reducing costs by over 30%.