Hasty Briefs - Daily Tech News Brief

Bilingual

Tesla Chair Sells $198M Worth of Stock in Just Six Months
a year ago
- Tesla chairwoman Robyn Denholm sold $198 million in shares over six months.
- Since 2018, Tesla management has sold $530 million worth of shares.
- Elon Musk's political ties and controversies have hurt Tesla's stock and sales.
- Tesla shares have lost 11.92% of their value this year.
- Denholm exercised stock options to buy and sell shares for a profit.
- Immediate share sales may indicate lack of confidence in Tesla's future.
- Denholm has sold over 1.4 million shares but still owns 85,000.
- Tesla's board approved Musk's record compensation, later suspended by a judge.
Tesla has yet to start testing Austin robotaxi service weeks before launch
a year ago
- Tesla has not yet started testing its robotaxi service in Austin without a safety driver, despite the planned June launch.
- The Tesla Robotaxi service will initially use a small fleet of Model Ys in a geo-fenced area of Austin, supported by human teleoperations.
- Tesla's robotaxi relies on its 'Supervised Full Self-Driving' program, which currently averages about 500 miles between critical disengagements.
- Waymo, a competitor, conducted extensive testing with and without safety drivers before launching its ride-hailing service in Austin.
- Tesla is collaborating with local emergency services in Austin to develop intervention plans for autonomous vehicle failures.
- Critics argue that Tesla's robotaxi project is a downgrade from previous promises and question the company's ability to deliver even this scaled-back version.
- Concerns are raised about public safety and regulatory oversight, especially given Tesla's aggressive timelines and past overpromises.
Tesla's robotaxi fleet will be powered by 'plenty of teleoperation'
a year ago
- Tesla's Austin robotaxi fleet will use 'plenty of teleoperation' for safety.
- Morgan Stanley analyst Adam Jonas, a Tesla supporter, shared insights from a meeting with Tesla.
- The Austin rollout will involve 10-20 Model Y vehicles, invite-only, on public roads with remote supervision.
- Tesla's approach diverges from earlier plans of unsupervised Full Self-Driving, opting for remote employee supervision instead.
- The service is expected to launch in June, but skepticism remains about its advancement over current FSD capabilities.
- Critics argue Tesla's robotaxi lacks necessary non-camera sensors and may not significantly surpass supervised FSD performance.
- The project is seen by some as a distraction from Tesla's unfulfilled promises of fully autonomous consumer vehicles.
Tesla's head of self-driving admits 'lagging a couple years' behind Waymo
a year ago
- Tesla's head of self-driving admits the company is 'a couple years' behind Waymo in autonomous driving technology.
- Tesla's approach is cheaper than Waymo's, but the quality is considered equal, despite the lag in development.
- Tesla currently offers Level 2 ADAS, requiring driver supervision, while Waymo provides Level 4 autonomous rides.
- Tesla plans to start Level 4 autonomous rides in Austin next month, using the same vehicles as customers but with optimized software and teleoperation support.
- Waymo's cost challenges include lidar sensors and vehicle production scale, but it already operates in multiple markets with over 250,000 paid rides weekly.
- Tesla's potential to scale faster than Waymo is questioned, with vehicle availability being its main advantage.
- The success of Tesla's autonomous program may depend on teleoperation ratios, regional training, and regulatory approvals.
Tesla crushed in Europe as BYD outsells; BEV sales surge 28%
a year ago
- Tesla's popularity in Europe has declined significantly, as shown by new car registration numbers.
- New car sales in Europe were almost flat, but plug-in sales (BEVs and PHEVs) grew by 28% and 31% respectively.
- Tesla's Model Y registrations fell by 53%, dropping it to 9th place in BEV registrations.
- The Skoda Elroq, VW ID.3, ID.7, ID.4, and Kia EV3 now lead the European BEV market.
'Noisy, ugly, planet-destroying temple': Australian locals on Tesla factory
a year ago
- Adelaide residents oppose a proposed Tesla factory, calling it 'noisy, ugly, planet-destroying'.
- Marion Council's plan to sell Chestnut Court Reserve for the Tesla facility faced 90% opposition in community feedback.
- Public sentiment against Elon Musk has grown due to his political affiliations and cost-cutting measures.
- Tesla vehicle vandalism has increased globally, and demand in Australia has plummeted.
- Residents argue the factory would harm green space, bring protests, and damage the area's reputation.
- Marion councillor suggests exploring local conservation-focused alternatives for the contaminated land.
- Tesla's Australian revenue surged to $5.1B in 2024, driven by battery sales, outpacing declining car sales.
- Musk's 2017 bet with Mike Cannon-Brookes led to Tesla's successful South Australian battery project.
- Tesla's proposal hinges on council approval, with a decision expected soon.
There's a Simple Pattern to Elon Musk's Broken Promises
a year ago
- Elon Musk admits his past predictions about achieving full self-driving (FSD) were overly optimistic.
- Despite a 71% dip in profits, Musk promises Tesla will lead in robotics, envisioning a future with 'insatiable' demand for robots.
- Musk has a history of unfulfilled promises, including affordable Tesla cars, Hyperloop, and autonomous driving timelines.
- Tesla's plans for an affordable family car, promised since 2006, were reportedly scrapped in favor of focusing on robotaxis.
- Hyperloop, proposed as a revolutionary transportation system, was shut down in 2023 after failing to materialize.
- Musk's predictions about Tesla achieving full autonomy have repeatedly missed deadlines, with promises shifting year after year.
- The Boring Company's tunnel projects, like the LVCC Loop in Las Vegas, fall short of Musk's ambitious visions.
- Neuralink, Musk's brain-chip startup, has faced delays, with the first human implant occurring seven years after initial predictions.
- Musk's robotaxi promises, including a million driverless cars by 2020, remain unfulfilled, with a limited rollout planned for 2024.
- Despite skepticism, Musk continues to make bold claims, such as producing millions of Optimus robots annually.
- Critics argue Musk's overpromising and underdelivering may eventually catch up with him, especially as Tesla's car sales decline.
Unsold Tesla Cybertrucks are piling up at Detroit parking lot
a year ago
- Tesla's Cybertruck sales have dropped significantly in recent quarters.
- Unsold Cybertrucks are being stored in unconventional locations, including a Detroit shopping center parking lot.
- The shopping center is now in violation of city code due to the stored vehicles.
- The parking lot resembles a dystopian graveyard with rows of Cybertrucks.
- The overflow may be due to proximity to a new Tesla showroom in West Bloomfield.
- The shopping center landlord has been informed of the violation, but enforcement may take time.
- Despite outselling other electric trucks, the Cybertruck has underperformed Elon Musk's expectations.
- The vehicle has faced eight recalls within a year and brand devaluation linked to Musk's political involvement.
Tesla FSD doesn't stop for school buses with stop signs and red lights
a year ago
- Tesla's FSD 13.2.9 fails to stop for school buses, posing a danger to children.
- Dan O'Dowd criticizes Elon Musk for not addressing the issue despite prior warnings.
- The issue was highlighted during the 2023 Super Bowl.
Turn a Tesla into a mapping vehicle with Mapillary
a year ago
- Tesla vehicles can be turned into mapping vehicles using Mapillary by utilizing the built-in dashcam feature.
- The main challenge is the lack of GPS tracks stored with the videos, requiring the use of a GPS tracking app on a phone to record GPX tracks.
- Mapillary's command line tools can align video clips with GPX tracks by matching timestamps from the video filenames with the GPX data.
- The Tesla dashcam records from four cameras (front, back, left, right), each needing specific offset angles for correct geotagging.
- Time synchronization is crucial, but network-connected devices like Tesla and smartphones generally maintain accurate times.
- A sample script is provided to automate the processing of videos and GPX files using mapillary_tools.
- Future improvements could include onboard GPS and automatic data offloading, possibly using a Raspberry Pi with a GPS module.
Tesla Autopilot Flips Car over in Perfect Driving Conditions
a year ago
- A Tesla vehicle on Full Self-Driving (FSD) Supervised update veered off road and flipped, causing a crash the driver couldn’t prevent.
- Most Tesla FSD crashes involve driver inattention, but some, like this one, appear to be caused solely by FSD with no time for driver reaction.
- FSD is a Level 2 driver assist system requiring constant driver attention, despite Tesla’s recent messaging to 'lean back and watch the road.'
- The driver in this incident was attentive but had less than a second to react when FSD suddenly swerved into a ditch, flipping the car.
- Tesla’s driver monitoring systems are being relaxed, raising concerns about complacency and increased risk of FSD-caused crashes.
- The incident highlights the unpredictability of FSD errors, with some crashes being unpreventable by drivers even when fully attentive.
- Tesla’s push for Robotaxi rollout amid ongoing FSD reliability issues is questioned, given unreported erratic behaviors and lack of transparency in data.
Tesla shows no sign of improvement in May sales data
a year ago
- Tesla CEO Elon Musk has shifted focus back to Tesla amid declining sales.
- Tesla's Q1 sales dropped year-over-year despite a global rise in EV sales.
- April and May sales data show significant declines in Europe and China.
- Germany's KBA reported a 36% drop in Tesla sales in May, while overall EV registrations rose by 45%.
- Similar declines were seen in the UK (45% drop) and Italy (20% drop).
- In China, Tesla faces competition from local brands offering lower prices and more features.
- Tesla's Shanghai factory saw a 15% drop in deliveries in May compared to last year.
- Norway showed a modest 20% increase in Tesla sales in May 2025.
Unsold Cybertrucks Are Piling Up at a Decaying US Shopping Mall
a year ago
- Tesla is struggling to sell its Cybertrucks, leading to a surplus stored in abandoned parking lots.
- Hundreds of unsold Cybertrucks are parked outside a closed Bed Bath & Beyond in Michigan, violating local zoning laws.
- The Cybertruck has become a symbol of Tesla's broader issues, including declining sales and public perception.
- Production of Cybertrucks has slowed, and workers are being reassigned at Tesla's Texas factory.
- Cybertruck resale values are dropping rapidly, contrasting with its initial hype as a futuristic vehicle.
- Elon Musk's controversial political stance and Chinese EV competition are negatively impacting Tesla's market position.
I Bought a Tesla and the Previous Owner Has Been Remotely Controlling My Car
a year ago
- A new Tesla Model S owner faced issues when the previous owner retained remote control, causing disruptions like activating AC, seat heaters, and honking the horn.
- The new owner, Vladdroid, countered by racking up Supercharger idle fees on the previous owner's account and eventually guessed the valet code to regain control.
- Tesla's ownership transfer process requires registration documents, causing delays and leaving buyers vulnerable to previous owners' digital access.
- The Tesla Model S experiences significant depreciation, losing 30–40% of its value within the first three years and up to 71% over five years.
- Connected-car vulnerabilities highlight risks in secondhand EV purchases, emphasizing the need for full digital resets and ownership confirmation.
Tesla is trying to stop certain self-driving crash data becoming public
a year ago
- Tesla is attempting to prevent the public release of certain self-driving crash data, claiming it is confidential and could benefit competitors.
- The company filed a request to block the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) from disclosing data related to crashes involving self-driving features.
- Tesla argues that releasing this data would allow competitors to analyze the effectiveness of different versions of its self-driving technology and determine crash frequencies linked to various systems.
- The Washington Post sued the NHTSA last year for more details on crashes involving driver-assistance systems like Autopilot and Full Self-Driving (FSD), but the agency claims the data is exempt from public records laws.
- Tesla maintains that certain crash-related information, such as driver behavior, road conditions, and specific versions of driver-assistance tech, should remain private.
- The Post's lawyers argue that hardware and software version details are not confidential since drivers can access this information via their vehicle dashboards.
- Tesla counters that even if individual vehicle owners know certain details, they share this information with Tesla expecting it to remain private.
- Tesla reportedly uses NHTSA loopholes to redact most crash-related data, emphasizing that its 'self-driving' tech requires active driver supervision and does not make cars fully autonomous.
- Tesla plans to launch its first Robotaxi service in Austin, Texas, this month.
- Elon Musk, Tesla's CEO, was previously the de facto head of the Department of Government Efficiency, which reportedly led to a 10% reduction in NHTSA staff, including half of the team overseeing autonomous vehicle safety.
Tesla sales are crashing in China, and things are about to get worse
a year ago
- Tesla's sales in China are crashing despite new Model Y and discounts.
- Competition and a new EV price war are pressuring Tesla in China.
- Tesla's Q2 performance in China is worse than Q1 and last year.
- Only 8,600 vehicles sold in China in the first week of June.
- Tesla's 2025 deliveries lag 2024 by about 20,000 units.
- May data shows 38,588 vehicles delivered in China and 23,074 exported.
- EV sales in China are up 35% in Q1, but Tesla is struggling.
- BYD triggered a new EV price war with significant price drops.
- Tesla's gross margins in China are practically nonexistent.
- Tesla may face a very difficult second half of the year in China.
First Tesla Robotaxi Spotted Driving Around Austin
a year ago
- First Tesla Robotaxi spotted driving autonomously in Austin, Texas.
- Tesla Model Y with 'Robotaxi' branding seen without a human driver.
- Tesla's autonomy chief, Ashok Elluswamy, seemingly confirms the sighting.
- Elon Musk hints at an 'unsupervised' Robotaxi service launch in June.
- Initial rollout to use existing Model Ys, starting with 10-12 vehicles.
- Musk predicts hundreds of thousands to over a million self-driving Teslas in the U.S. by end of next year.
- Tesla's autonomous driving ambitions face scrutiny over its camera-and-AI-only approach.
- Robotaxi service seen as critical for Tesla amid declining sales and Musk's political controversies.
Tesla blows past stopped school bus and hits kid-sized dummies in FSD tests
a year ago
- Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) mode failed to stop for a school bus and hit child-sized dummies in repeated tests.
- The tests were conducted by anti-Tesla organizations, including The Dawn Project, Tesla Takedown, and ResistAustin.
- Tesla's FSD is labeled as 'Supervised,' requiring driver attention, but has faced criticism for safety concerns.
- Previous incidents, including a fatal crash involving a motorcyclist, have raised doubts about FSD's reliability.
- Elon Musk announced potential delays for the Cybercab rollout, emphasizing safety concerns, with a tentative date of June 22.
- Tesla plans to demonstrate a self-driving car traveling from factory to customer by June 28.
Tesla Robotaxi launch is a dangerous game of smoke and mirrors
a year ago
- Tesla's Robotaxi launch in Austin is criticized as being more about optics than actual self-driving capability.
- Elon Musk has a history of missed deadlines regarding Tesla's self-driving promises, dating back to 2016.
- Tesla's approach involves geofencing and teleoperation, similar to Waymo, despite Musk previously dismissing such methods as not 'real self-driving.'
- Safety concerns are raised due to limited testing without safety drivers and high intervention rates in Tesla's self-driving tests.
- Tesla is actively fighting against releasing self-driving crash data, raising transparency issues.
- The Dawn Project highlights potential dangers, such as Tesla vehicles failing to stop for school buses.
- Electrek expresses concern over the safety and readiness of Tesla's Robotaxi service, questioning Musk's motives.
The Tesla Brain Drain
a year ago
- Tesla's future heavily depends on Elon Musk as the company faces declining sales and executive departures.
- Elon Musk's focus on AI and robots has diverted attention from Tesla's core car business.
- Tesla has lost many top executives and employees, increasing pressure on Musk to lead the company single-handedly.
- Musk's leadership style involves radical cost-cutting and restructuring, which has both helped and hurt Tesla.
- Former Tesla employees are now contributing to other automakers, potentially leveling the playing field in the EV industry.
- Tesla's struggles could slow the transition to electric vehicles, impacting the broader automotive industry's shift to cleaner technologies.
- Musk's reputation and investor confidence are at stake as Tesla navigates these challenges.

Hasty Briefsbeta

#tesla

Tesla Chair Sells $198M Worth of Stock in Just Six Months

Tesla has yet to start testing Austin robotaxi service weeks before launch

Tesla's robotaxi fleet will be powered by 'plenty of teleoperation'

Tesla's head of self-driving admits 'lagging a couple years' behind Waymo

Tesla crushed in Europe as BYD outsells; BEV sales surge 28%

'Noisy, ugly, planet-destroying temple': Australian locals on Tesla factory

There's a Simple Pattern to Elon Musk's Broken Promises

Unsold Tesla Cybertrucks are piling up at Detroit parking lot

Tesla FSD doesn't stop for school buses with stop signs and red lights

Turn a Tesla into a mapping vehicle with Mapillary

Tesla Autopilot Flips Car over in Perfect Driving Conditions

Tesla shows no sign of improvement in May sales data

Unsold Cybertrucks Are Piling Up at a Decaying US Shopping Mall

I Bought a Tesla and the Previous Owner Has Been Remotely Controlling My Car

Tesla is trying to stop certain self-driving crash data becoming public

Tesla sales are crashing in China, and things are about to get worse

First Tesla Robotaxi Spotted Driving Around Austin

Tesla blows past stopped school bus and hits kid-sized dummies in FSD tests

Tesla Robotaxi launch is a dangerous game of smoke and mirrors

The Tesla Brain Drain