Hello all -- I am doing a kitchen facelift in my almost century row house and have a question. My kitchen has one wall that is the brick shared wall between the other house and the other three walls are plaster and lath. My original vision was the wide bead board on the wall, but the gentleman at the lumber yard that supplies this product did not advise if for this application (not enough support for individual t & g boards without furring strips which I don't want to use, panels not a good option due to tall ceilings). My alternate vision is vertical ship lap (moan and grumble all you want, sorry) but again I don't want to add a lot of depth to my already narrow galley kitchen walls with furring strips.
So my partner suggested taking down my three plaster and lath walls all the way to the studs, adding blocking between the studshorizontal studs, and nailing ship lap directly to the studs. Is this a reasonable idea? Once I got over the potential mess and scale of demo, it seems like it would work. Plus it would give my partner access to wiring in the kitchen -- he's an electrician and there are a few mystery electrical things going on. Is this a good idea? What might I not be thinking about? Anything else to consider before doing this?
FWIW, even if I steamed off the wallpaper, my plaster walls as they are now are a bit fucked up with some bubbling plaster, unevenness, etc. I've replaced appliances and I'm also planning on replacing the floor, sink, and countertops; refinishing the lower cabinets and uppers on short side (not painting); replacing uppers on stove side with open shelves; tiling a backsplash; and unearthing a sidelight and transom from the wall where the addition is.
*I always get downvoted here -- sorry for wasting your time! The DIY sub rules say only post completed projects, home improvement says no photos, if there's a better place to ask, lmk!

Improving your home and giving it a new look can provide unseen benefits in life. Home improvement projects can be an experience that takes you on a new and better way to life. In this blog, we will tell you about the benefits of doing home improvement work that can change your life.

Improves Health:

Home improvement tasks can improve the health of you and your family. A clean, comfortable and safe home makes you feel peaceful and secure, which can impact mental and physical health.

Experience of Prosperity:

Home improvement works can increase the value of your home, thereby increasing your wealth. This may provide you an opportunity to improve your financial situation.

Stability and Security:

Home improvement works can increase the stability and security of your home. New and improved infrastructure, electrical facilities and security features can give you confidence.

Improved social and family relations**:

An attractive and comfortable home can inspire your family and friends to visit you. It can strengthen your social and family relationships.

Reference to new experiences:

Home improvement projects can provide you with new and exciting experiences. It provides an opportunity to face new challenges in your life and develops your thinking and talents.

Development in more related areas:

Home improvement jobs can provide you with the opportunity to grow in more related areas, such as developing your construction and design skills.

Increased self-confidence:

When you improve your home, your self-confidence increases. You feel proud of the work you do and understand your abilities.

Environmental Awareness:

You can increase environmental awareness while doing home improvement work. You can review which material and technology options are more friendly to the environment and select them.

Beginning of a new and balanced life:

With home improvement work, you can start a new and balanced life. A nice and comfortable home brings balance and peace to your life, making you positive and enthusiastic.

Collection of Experiences:

Your home improvement work gives you a chance to collect experiences. It provides an opportunity to collect memorable and shared moments for you and your family.
Home improvement works not only make your home new and attractive, but they also make your life positive and enthusiastic. It opens the door to new and better experiences for you and your family and gives you the ability to enjoy every moment of life. Therefore, it is time to plan and carry out your home improvement works carefully.

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I’m thinking of going for my first electric car and came across the Ora 03 and 07. How’s your experience so far and do you regret buying it? Do you have another car that you considered and why did you pick the ORA?
Also is there anything to look out for? Any new facelift or upgrades I should wait for?
Thank you!

Hi Guys,
I would need to travel about 360Km 3 times a week = 4320 Km a month!
I currently drive 2016 Elantra D AT and love it (would have bought again had they launched in India).
Tucson is way over budget and Kia Sportage is nowhere in sight. + With Elantra I've learned to buy a car that actually sells - parts etc are a problem.
I have been eyeing XUV 700 for a while now - love the drive and handling; literally feels like driving a sedan! I had dismisssed Harrier sometime back but just test drove the new facelift and it blew me away - the steering is electric and electronics pack is top notch! (Makes XUV feel atleast 2 years behind).
Priorities: Safety > Economy > Comfort
What do you guys suggest?

1. Definitely need SUV (better halfs demand)
2. Even with 7 seater - last 2 rows would be down atleast 99.99 % of times.
3. Budget 30L ?

Heavily deciding whether or not to upgrade from a 2015 Diesel, to a 2025 Golf R (ie facelifted mk8 if they come out and we get them).
Would love to stay away from electrics and the Golf R has been a car ive been eyeing since getting my license 8-9yrs ago. The Diesels still solid, but dont want to miss on my chance to own a new ICE Golf R.
Just looking at what people are thinking.

Tried looking online but I have no lead for a decent garage. There’s not much to do, just a basic facelift and adding a couple of electrical accessories. Any leads would be really appreciated.

Next Gen Q8 development have started wont be reveal till late 2026 or early 2027. My sources say as well say next gen A8 Grand Sphere test mule was spotted in Germany. The A8 will get another facelift for 2026MY new grill design, new lights, minor interior changes with MIB 4 we seen on new Q6. The next gen A8 and Q8 will have MIB 5 when they release.
Porsche Macan EV mule is believed to be the next Audi Q8 e-tron
What is Porsche testing here with this butchered Macan EV? At a glance, you might assume it’s another mule for the first-ever all-electric Cayenne, due to arrive in 2026. But our spy photo team says it’s all in the detail, and that it could be a prototype for the next Audi Q8 e-tron.
These latest spy shots show another electric Macan mule with a similarly wide track and fender extension treatment, but this one has a different nose again. What makes it particularly interesting is that the license plate on that nose starts with ‘IN’, the code for Ingolstadt, which is Audi’s hometown and is located in the state of Bavaria. Porsche prototypes usually start with ‘BB’ (Böblingen District) or ‘LB’ (Ludwigsburg District), both of which are in Baden-Württemburg.
That suggests this is not a Porsche prototype, but an Audi test car

The new mahindra xuv 300 facelift just launched and heres a variant wise breakdown
XUV 3X0 comes with 13 Key Features:
1) Skyroof
2) ADAS- Level-2
3) 360° Surround view camera
4) Harman Kardon music system with 7 Speakers
5) 10.25 Infotainment & 10.25" digital cluster
6) Adreno & Alexa - 70+ features
7) 17" Alloy Wheels
8) Electronic parking Brake (EPB) with autohold
9) 6 Speed Automate Transition (Torque converter)
10) Soft touch dashboard with premium Styling
11) Best in Segment Torque
12) Best in segment space - {longert wheel base- 2600 MM width - 1821 MM}
13) Safety package: ESP package (Advanced ESP), All wheel disc, 6 Air bags
XUV3X0 comes in 2 different Variant Series.
1) MX series 2) AX series
XUV 3X0 - Varient wise Features :
MX series
MX1 feature
* Hallogen projector headlamps
* 6 Airbags * Latest gen Esp package * R16 steel wheel * Electrically Adjustable ORVM * Front Arm rest with storage * Engine start stop system * ISO Fix * All power window * Rear A/C vents * Rear USB ports
MX2 Features: (Features in MX1 +)
* Infotainment System * 4 speakers * Steering Auto control * Remote Keyless entry * wheel cover
MX2 pro Features (MX2 Features +) :
* Single pane Sunroof
MX3 Fetures: (MX2 Pro Features +)
* Single pane Sunroof * 10.25" infotainment * Wireless Android Auto & wired CP * Cruise control * Wireless charger * Follow me home head lamp * Front USB part 2 No's
MX3 Pro Features: (MX3 feratures +)
* LED projector head lamp * LED DRL'S with turn indicator * Connected LED Tail lamps * R16 vasa wheels
AX SERIES
AX5 Features:
* 10.25" infotainment * 10.25" digital cluster * 6 speakers * Adrenox connect * Alexa * Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay * R16 Allboy wheel * LED projector headlamps. * LED DRL'S with front turn indicator * Connected LED Tail lamps * Dual tone FATC * PRE+EBS * Leather wrapped steering & gearknob * TPMS * Electrically foldable ORVM * 6-way Adjustable driver seat. * Rear arm rest with cup holder * 4 Auto head lamps * Auto wipers * Rear wiper with washer * Roof rails & rear spoiler * Rear defogger * Rear view camera
AX 5 L Features : (AX 5 Features +)
* ADAS level-2 * 360° view Camera * Auto dimming IRVA * Electronic Parking Brake with Auto hold
AX7 Features :
* Soft touch leatherette dash board * Leatherette Seats * R17 diamond cut Alloy's * Harman Kardon MUSIC System with 7 speakers * Auto dimming IRVM * LED Fog lamps * Front parking Sensors * Cooled glove box with illumination
AX7 PRO Features : (AX7 Variant Features +)
* Sky roof
AX7 L Features : (AX7 Features +)
* ADAS level-2 * 360 Camera * Electronic Parking Brake with Auto hold
AX7L Pro Features : (AX7L Features +)
* Skyroof

Hello, i've got an 156 1.8 TS, facelift model, year 2004, petrol. As the title implies, it just stops while driving. Its not that it just kills the engine, but also all electric current. To be able to start it again, i must remove and reconnect the battery connector. And i can drive for a while until it stops again. If i do this several times, i have to wait until the engine cools of to be able to start the engine again. I've only done this till i managed to get home, car is sitting ever since. Also, it happened as soon as i entered the city and used the gearbox more. While driving outside, with less gear changes, i had no problem. Guys from the service told me its something electric, and they only fix mechanical parts, lol. Anyway, does any of you had something similar happening to them or have any idea what can cause this? Thank you for your time, and sorry for the long post.

Hi everyone,
I've been in the market for a Discovery 4 for quite a while now. Finding an example which fits my requirements is proving to be quite troublesome.
After wasting my day yesterday travelling out to a "specialist" (specialist conman), I thought to ask this forum for your advice. Where would you look for a good example of a Discovery 4?
Thus far I've been checking both AutoTrader & PistonHeads. eBay too sometimes if I get curious, yet I just cannot quite find a consistent or reputable listing or seller..! Main dealers don't seem to entertain Discovery 4 anymore. I asked within my group and they said that they're just starting to get too old or too high-mileage to offer the Land Rover approved warranty on most Discovery 4s.
Yes, I am being really particular and picky with my "must have" spec and requirements. I admit that one would have been sat on my driveway a long while ago if it wasn't for this.
I'm not asking for help in my search, but should you be curious, here are my rough requirements:

• Model Year 2014 or newer (For the facelift).
• HSE Specification or higher.
• Twin six-spoke or turbine style alloys. (Not a massive fan of the diamond cut ones).
• Paint wise, darker shades such as black, blue, green and the darker Corris Grey.
• Interior colourway would be black on black with the wood grain veneer trim, though I accept this is very rare to find! So black on black is okay. Even the cream seats with black doesn't look bad either.
• Ideally sitting around the 125,000 miles mark.
• Good (but not necessarily complete) service history.
• Cosmetic condition to match the vehicles age.
• Not an insurance write-off.

..and my 'nice to have' extras (which are not included in the HSE specification) include (in order of favourability):

• Heated Steering Wheel
• Electrically heated front windshield.
• Overnight cabin preheater.
• Upgraded 14 speaker sound (speakers for seats 6 & 7).
• Centre locking differential.

Do you think these requirements are unreasonable? Maybe you think I should consider other requirements, possibly based off your own first-hand experience owning a Discovery 4? Let me know. I'm happy to take feedback and develop a discussion. Thanks all in advance for your thoughts!

My current ride (2012 328i) has about 10k worth of repairs that are needed. So I’m highly tempted to get a new (used) car. A local dealer has a relatively low mileage 2021 330e that I’m looking at. I’ve seen complaints about the small electric range, but my daily commute is only about 14 miles round trip so I could get almost 2 days off a single charge.
I’ve also seen people say the current facelift significantly improved the interior aesthetics and functionality of the control system, but probably not enough of a deal to drop an extra 15 k on a new model.
I’d love to hear peoples experiences with this model, especially around reliability. Adding on an electric motor has to increase the number of failure points and BMWs aren’t exactly known for their stellar reliability.
Thanks!

In response to new B10 A5 later this year and upcoming B10 A4 e-tron and C Class facelift sometime in 2025 BMW giving the 3 series another update it plans to extend this generation to 2026.
It has been less than two years since the Alpina B3 was facelifted alongside the standard 3-Series line-up and the company has started testing a second facelift.
The existing G20-generation 3-Series has been around since 2018 and will soon get its second facelift, or lifecycle impulse (LCI) in the BMW lexicon. The first facelift brought a series of noteworthy upgrades, the most obvious being new headlights, a redesigned grille, and an altered front fascia. Changes made to the 2025 3-Series and the B3 will be more subtle
Both prototypes have camouflage across their front and rear bumpers as well as their tailgates, indicating that these are the key areas being tweaked. The front bumper appears slightly edgier and more aggressive with angular air intakes and a more pronounced splitter. Changes made to the rear are a little less obvious.
Few changes are expected to be made to the powertrain. As such, the B3 should continue to sport a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder, likely delivering the same 488 hp and 538 lb-ft (730 Nm) of torque as the outgoing model. This engine will be coupled to an eight-speed automatic transmission that sends power through all four wheels.
A new i3 is planned, but it’ll be a significantly different car. Coming 2026, the Neue Klasse-based i3 will be made in Munich on a dedicated electric car platform.
https://www.carscoops.com/2024/04/2025-alpina-b3-gears-up-on-the-ring-for-its-second-facelift/

TLDR: Forget the fancy arena – Sudbury's got WAY bigger problems. Our roads are crumbling, parks are neglected, the lake is polluted, public transit is a joke, and the homeless situation is out of control. Meanwhile, the cops don't even have body/car cameras! This city needs to get its priorities straight and invest in the basics before blowing money on entertainment.
I made this as a reply to another post but I figured it deserves it own.
While I understand the allure of a shiny new arena, I strongly disagree with prioritizing entertainment over the urgent issues facing Sudbury. Our limited tax dollars could be transformative if directed towards crucial areas that will benefit every citizen, not just those that can afford the admission cost for the new arena.
Roads and Infrastructure: A Bumpy Ride to Nowhere
The condition of our roads is an embarrassment. Potholes large enough to swallow a tire force drivers into dangerous maneuvers, potentially causing accidents and vehicle damage. Crumbling sidewalks endanger pedestrians, especially those with mobility issues. To make matters worse, there's a lack of proper bike lanes, forcing cyclists to compete with traffic in unsafe conditions. Investing in these necessities isn't about a mere facelift – it's about basic functionality, safety, and protecting our residents and businesses.
Parks, Lakes, and Conservation: Lost Potential
Sudbury is blessed with natural beauty, but we're squandering it. Our parks could be vibrant community hubs with expanded amenities, but many are neglected. Our jewel, Ramsey Lake, is plagued by pollution from motor boats and potentially even runoff from lawns surrounding it. Stricter bylaws focused on conserving our lake should be implemented – permitting only wind or human-powered vessels and reserving petrol/electric vessel for law enforcement only would make a huge difference. Enhancing our green spaces with new trails and better maintenance wouldn't just make them nicer, it would drive tourism and make Sudbury a far more desirable place to live and work.
Public Transit: Stuck in the Past
The transit hub in downtown is notoriously unsafe, deterring use. The buses themselves are relics, prone to breakdowns and leaving riders stranded. This isn't just an inconvenience, it has real-life consequences. I live in Copper Cliff, and frequently, with no warning, buses simply skip my stop – sometimes due to weather, or even disruptions like movie filming. This unpredictability has caused me to miss important appointments and events. Expanding routes, investing in newer, clean-energy vehicles, and creating a central hub that feels safe would make public transit a realistic choice for many. This translates to less congestion, cleaner air, and better access to jobs and services for those without a car – a huge win for everyone.
Homelessness: A Compassionate, Proactive Approach
The homelessness situation downtown is a humanitarian crisis. Criminalizing those without stable housing achieves nothing. Instead of the current cycle of encampment teardowns, why not invest in a designated area with supportive services? This could include basic amenities, on-site staff for maintenance and assistance, and a pathway away from a strictly supervised consumption approach. This investment demonstrates compassion while focusing on long-term solutions. Our city could be a leader with this innovative approach: a designated area offering basic amenities, maintenance, a place for their tents, and most critically, on-site support services. This model is far more cost-effective than the endless cycle of encampment teardowns, police involvement, and emergency services. We could actually help people transition out of homelessness with dignity and real support.
The Supervised Consumption Site: A Costly Misstep
While well-intentioned, Sudbury's supervised consumption site is a costly failure. Only a fraction of our estimated opioid-addicted population used it, at a staggering cost per visit . With over $2,000,000 spent on the supervised consumption site in Sudbury, each visit ends up costing taxpayers roughly a staggering $2,900. That investment could be far more impactful if integrated into the model I proposed for addressing homelessness, focusing more on treatment and support that leads to lasting solutions.
Police Accountability: An Investment in Trust
Another area desperately needing investment is police accountability. While communities like Toronto, London, and Hamilton embrace body cameras and in-car cameras to promote transparency, Sudbury lags far behind. This technology was promised back in 2022, yet here we are years later with no progress. Body cameras protect both citizens AND officers, creating clear records of interactions and discouraging misconduct. In a time when public trust in law enforcement is fragile, it's astonishing that these cameras haven't been prioritized.
The Cost of Misplaced Priorities
Each year we delay addressing these issues, the price tag only grows. Neglecting them harms our reputation, hampers economic growth, and lowers our overall quality of life. I find it offensive that our city prioritizes a new arena when people struggle with substandard infrastructure, polluted natural assets, limited public transport, a humanitarian crisis downtown, and a lack of basic police accountability measures.
Respectfully,
PerspectiveOne7129

As the title says, what do you guys think would be a good price to sell this car? 2018 Hyundai Creta (facelift) 1.6 CRDI SX(O) top trim fiery red 35k kms 1st owner 0 dep insurance till oct 24 all the tyres were changed last year with new ones accident free all the services have been done through Hyundai service centres. Car is in great condition, save for a few minor scratches.
All the electricals are in good condition (sunroof, wireless charger etc.) has all leather seats+ leather steering
Please suggest. Also please suggest some good places to sell in and around Mumbai. If in case anyone in and around Mumbai is interested, Pls DM and I will shares pics, etc.
Thanks

... I know I'm a little late on this but I just wanted to let you know some food/drink/hotel tips and some cool places to see. I'm just a humble Winnipeg resident wanting to give you guys the low-down should any of you be making a trip up to Winnipeg to follow your boys.
If you can- Try to stay close to the Forks Market and downtown/the Exchange. Some decent to good hotels close to the arena/Forks are Inn at the Forks, alt Hotel, Norwood Hotel, Delta Winnipeg, The Fairmont, and the Radisson. (There is a Ramada Marlborough as well but don't be fooled by the hotel chain, it's not a great place to stay.) In the Forks itself you have the Forks Commons which is an amazing place for sampling craft beer and wine from around our city, and other craft brewers in the province/area. There's tons of food options there running from the cheap eats to a steakhouse all inside the Forks. If you're a coffee guy, I recommend Fools and Horses at the end of the Forks Commons.
Beside the Forks Commons is Inn at the Forks (a great place to stay, probably the best on this list!), which has Smith (a good restaurant) and the Riverstone Spa which would be a great place to treat someone if you're bringing up a significant other. Or yourself- I love going to the spa solo, and don't give a shit- its awesome! Also if you want a very intense and meaningful dose of Canadian and world history, the Canadian Museum of Human Rights is there. Warning: Very sobering experience- not a feel good day but an important one.
The entire area around the Forks is a great place to walk and wander too, gardens, footpaths and outdoor trails. It will be some beautiful weather this coming week but as always dress accordingly. :)
Close to the Forks area is an area called The Exchange. It's a short cab ride away and has some great food and drink and specialty shops. My wife and I's favourite restaurant, "deer + almond" is in there. Also in there is the Kings Head Pub, Amsterdam Tea Room, Peasant Cookery, The Yellow Dog Tavern (BEST place for pregame beer and food but check their hours because sometimes they close at odd times), Little Brown Jug (BEST local brewery, tied with One Great City), and if you're into music at all there's a great record shop called "Into The Music". Also down there is our Symphony, major theatre centres, museums, and the rink I play beer league at. ;)
Worth going to Electric Modern Lunch for a breakfast- Clementine is also solid. If you're in West Broadway or close to the arena Thom Bargen coffee is there as well- best coffee in Winnipeg. Also close is Langside Grocery- best cocktails in Winnipeg, although if you're a cocktail enthusiast check out Patent 5 Distilling or the Roost. Worth the Uber!
Across the river from the Forks and accessible by crossing the Main Street Bridge is St. Boniface- our Francophone community in Winnipeg. If you head down there, Pasquales makes Italian food in a quantity to cover you for two meals. The Wood Tavern attached to the Norwood Hotel has had a facelift and makes great food and drink nowadays. I've had GREAT food at Nola. If you go over the Provencher Bridge (the one with the white spear poking up) you'll end up at the other end of St. Boniface and some lovely spots to explore, including a great brewery called Kilter which is fan-tastic!
As I said earlier- The Yellow Dog Tavern is a great pre-game place. It's not RIGHT beside the arena like Shark Club, Elephant and Castle, Browns Social House or Boston Pizza so it tends not to be as packed as those places. They have a much better beer selection too- as well as solid pizza and overall good food but they are closed Sunday. You can also try the Merchant Kitchen (which is attached to the alt Hotel) but it can be pretty busy. Also worth noting- because a lot of people want to try a poutine up here in Canada- the Tipsy Cow is a stones throw from the arena and has a great local beer selection, amazing burgers, as well as one of the city's best poutines!
Inside CityPlace which is attached to the arena you'll find the usual fast food offerings but there's a decent little spot called Bodegoes that has 4.00 Fort Garry beers and a nice selection of foods if you want to have something before going into the arena.
Also if you want fancy-- 529 Wellington hands down if you want fancy steakhouse experience! Carnavale is also a great Brazilian steakhouse and it's in the exchange. While a bit removed from downtown (5-10 minutes by car) Ray and Jerry's is a blast-from-the-past steakhouse that looks like it hasn't been touched since 1958- red booths, dim lighting, and a great place to dress up and sip a gin martini.
It'd also be worth checking out Assiniboine Park, the Leaf, the Polar Bear exhibit at the zoo, strolling Corydon Village/Osborne Village for bars, food, and shops coffee-in-hand, going to the Nordic Outdoor Spa Thermea (HIGHLY RECOMMEND!), or heading to the Bridge Drive In for a GOOG Special, although I'm not sure if they're open yet.
I love when people come to visit our city, so if you're coming, do send me a message and I'll give you my phone number or socials- I'm happy to help you with anything you need while you're here. I would come and get you from the airport too (I've done it for peeps from other subs and assure you I have a 0% "harvest-your-organs" percentage!), but I'm out of town for work until Game 5 so getting in touch via IG or FB is the best I can do, unless you're coming for Game 5 in which case I'll be happy to get you at the airport with a four-pack of MB craft beer as a welcoming gift.
Have a great weekend and hope to see you at the WHITEOUT- please enjoy Winnipeg- for everything you may have heard about it- the people are amazing, it's a great arena to see hockey in, and overall- it's a wonderful place. :)

Free account walled article - https://heatmap.news/electric-vehicles/tesla-elon-musk-self-driving-robotaxi#
"Five years ago, the world met the Model Y. Tesla officially unveiled its smaller crossover in March 2019 and, the next year, began to sell the car in staggering numbers. The Model Y helped Tesla tighten its grip on the electric vehicle market. By 2023 it had displaced the Toyota Corolla as the world’s best-selling car of any kind.
It’s not easy to follow up a massive success. What’s worse is having no plan at all — or being chronically unable to stick to one. That’s where Tesla seems to be amid yet another shakeup at the company.
This week, Tesla announced it would lay off 10% of its worldwide staff, while some influential leaders are leaving of their own accord. The news comes as Tesla has just announced a sales dip and prognosticators wonder whether we’re entering an “EV winter” where more buyers choose hybrids instead. Now, this is neither the first time Tesla has run into difficulty nor the first time the EV maker has commenced mass layoffs to cut costs. Somehow, though, this time feels different.
During the Model’s Y’s ascendance over the past half-decade, Tesla’s path forward to the next thing has turned into a mess of distractions and left turns. Musk became obsessed with and then purchased Twitter, a boondoggle of a deal that clearly distracted him from his car company. The oft-touted Roadster supercar has yet to materialize.
More importantly, the long-promised $25,000 car appears to be dead (or at least tabled indefinitely). Musk had initially indicated the affordable Tesla would finally arrive next year, leaving the company to endure a single gap year without a new vehicle. But Reuters reported that Tesla has killed the idea in part because of competition overseas from ultra-cheap Chinese EVs, and while Musk responded to the report by saying Reuters was “lying,” he’s done nothing to indicate the “Model 2” is anything but dead.
Meanwhile, the only new-ish vehicle in the Tesla lineup, the Cybertruck, is stuck. Tesla stopped deliveries of the steel beast for an unknown issue, rumored to be related to sticky accelerator problems, and shortened production shifts at the factory. And while it’s possible to squint and see a case for the Cybertruck, I’ve written here numerous times that Tesla’s big mistake wasn’t putting that eyesore on the road. Instead, it was focusing the company’s attention on something so adolescent and absurd at a moment when it could have tightened its grip on the EV market, and given American EV drivers some interesting new options, by rolling out new cars that look more like something the average American would want to buy.
So what is Tesla up to? In a follow-up tweet after he attacked Reuters, Musk suddenly announced that he would reveal the company’s “robotaxi” on August 8. This would be Tesla’s completely self-driven vehicle. Musk’s favorite claim about the car is that it would earn its owners passive income by driving itself around, picking up and dropping off passengers as a kind of dystopian Uber.
The dream certainly fits in with Musk’s oeuvre. The CEO clearly still sees Tesla as a lean startup that moves fast and breaks things, not an established car company that would do something so expected and bland as building a perfectly acceptable three-row family crossover to compete with the Kia EV9. Compare that to the way other companies born of Silicon Valley began to act once they got big. Apple may have engaged in a long, fruitless dalliance with the self-driving car, but ultimately, it knows its bread is buttered by iterating on everything in the iPhone ecosystem. Facebook may have changed its name to Meta to highlight its mission to create the metaverse, but it still leaned into the revenue engines it built or acquired, like Instagram or Whatsapp.
It’s fine to tell yourself a story about who you want to be. And to give Tesla the benefit of the doubt for a moment: sure, maybe it will be the one to crack full autonomous driving. But in practical terms, that tech is not close to reality, and Tesla’s version of it has encountered its fair share of bugs and been sued over crashes.
(In the spirit of “robotaxi,” the company just offered a month-long free trial of Full Self Driving to Tesla drivers. I will certainly not be using it with a young child in the car. The brand has also mandated that potential drivers be given a demo of FSD during test-drives, seemingly to hammer home the idea that Tesla is just a few steps away from having the car drive you home while you take a nap.)
In the meantime, you have to wonder just what Tesla is going to sell to humans who want a plain old electric car. It recently completed a refresh for the Model 3, and while the new one looks a little like next year’s iPhone — the same product with a facelift and a couple new features — you’d expect to see a similar update coming to the Model Y.
It’s important to remember: Despite the ill wishes from his online haters, Musk isn’t exactly dead in the water. Tesla sold 220,000 Model 3s in America last year and nearly 400,000 Model Ys, a huge lead over competitor EV from legacy car brands. Those companies are hitting the same EV headwinds as Tesla this year, while golden child Rivian is still at least a couple of years away from selling its exciting smaller SUVs. Tesla is the established giant in electric cars, even as it looks in the mirror and sees an upstart.
Yet with Cybertruck landing with a thud, and no obvious follow-up in the works, Tesla is in danger of blowing that huge lead. It may want to transform into a software company, and to earn back some of Musk’s Iron Man sci-fi cred by realizing the self-driving car. But at this moment, it feels a little like an electric car company that forgot it makes cars."