PODCAST: TESLA’S FLYING ROADSTER, ELON’S PAY, NEW EVS FROM JAPAN, MORE

EV Channels Review

This episode of the Electrek Podcast delves into several key developments in the EV space, with a significant focus on Tesla. The hosts express skepticism regarding the Tesla Roadster's delayed launch, citing its 2017 unveiling and repeated postponements. While a job listing for a manufacturing engineer for the battery pack suggests progress, a realistic production timeline is estimated for 2027. The podcast also scrutinizes Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) V14, highlighting driver disappointment with 'hallucinations,' 'brake stabbing,' and system crashes, despite Elon Musk's claims of improvement. The discussion around the Cybertruck's robotaxi variant, 'Cybercab,' reveals that Tesla is preparing for the possibility of including a steering wheel and pedals, a departure from Musk's initial 'no steering wheel' mandate, due to regulatory hurdles and the unlikelihood of full autonomy being solved in time for mass production. The hosts also touch upon potential tariff removals on Chinese EVs in Canada, the latest from the Japan Mobility Show including concepts from Subaru and Toyota, and Lucid's plans for Level 4 autonomy. The overall tone is critical of Tesla's execution and Elon Musk's pronouncements, particularly concerning FSD and the Roadster, while acknowledging the company's profitability and the complex position of its shareholders.