TESLA'S SURPRISE Q1 PROFITS, SEMI DELAYS, CYBERTRUCK GIGAFACTORY: EV RESOURCE PODCAST #014, PART 2

EV Channels Review

This episode of the EV Resource Podcast, Part 2, focuses heavily on Tesla news. The host highlights Tesla's surprise Q1 2020 profitability, exceeding expectations despite global challenges, driven partly by increased production in Shanghai and significant revenue from regulatory credits. The successful and profitable launch of the Model Y ahead of schedule is also lauded as a sign of Tesla's maturity as an automaker. However, the podcast addresses the delay of the Tesla Semi truck, now pushed to 2021, attributing it to battery cell constraints and Tesla's strategic prioritization of higher-volume, mission-aligned vehicles like the Model 3 and Model Y. The discussion also covers the ongoing competition among US states to host the new Cybertruck Gigafactory, with Kansas's unique promotional video and Texas emerging as strong contenders. Finally, the host addresses a viewer question about Tesla Autopilot's performance in heavy rain, with user feedback suggesting it performs adequately, leveraging radar when cameras are obscured, though full self-driving features may disengage. The reviewer concludes that while delays are disappointing, Tesla's strategic decisions are sound.