Tags: Tesla

Renowned roboticist Rodney Brooks, co‑founder of iRobot and longtime MIT researcher, cautions investors that the current surge in humanoid robot funding is unsustainable. He argues that attempts by companies such as Tesla and Figure to teach robots dexterity through video training overlook fundamental gaps in tactile sensing, safety, and scalability. Brooks highlights the complexity of the human hand—home to roughly 17,000 specialized touch receptors—and notes the lack of comparable data collection traditions for robots. He also warns that large walking robots pose significant safety hazards and predicts that future successful robots will favor wheels, multiple arms, and specialized sensors over a human‑like form. Lire la suite

Meta plans to extend its Project Orion augmented‑reality glasses venture into robotics, focusing on software that other makers can license. The company is developing a “Metabot” and a world‑model simulation to enable dexterous robot hands, with a robotics team led by former Cruise CEO Marc Whitten and backed by its Superintelligence Labs. Rather than competing directly in hardware, Meta wants its software platform to become the Android of robotics, mirroring moves by Apple and Tesla that are also exploring home robots. Lire la suite

Tesla’s effort to roll out a robotaxi service in California has sparked confusion among state regulators. Although the company touts a driver‑less future, the vehicles currently operating have safety drivers and lack the required permits for fully autonomous testing or commercial use. Emails between Tesla and officials reveal a back‑and‑forth over clarifying the service’s true nature, with the automaker avoiding direct answers. Regulatory agencies, including the California DMV and the NHTSA, note that Tesla has not applied for the necessary authorizations, intensifying scrutiny of the company’s autonomous‑vehicle roadmap. Lire la suite

Tesla joined other autonomous‑driving firms in Austin, Texas, launching a robotaxi trial that quickly ran into trouble. Within its first day of testing, the company logged three crashes involving its Model Y robotaxis, two of which were rear‑ended by other vehicles and one in which a safety‑operator‑equipped car struck a stationary object at low speed. The incidents were reported by Forbes analyst Brad Templeton and later referenced by CEO Elon Musk. By contrast, Waymo’s crash rate remains far lower, with sixty crashes reported over more than fifty million miles of autonomous driving. The early setbacks raise questions about Tesla’s readiness for large‑scale robotaxi deployment. Lire la suite

Tesla is considering a redesign of its electric door handles after the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened an investigation into the handles' safety. Design chief Franz von Holzhausen told Bloomberg that the company is exploring a combined electronic‑manual release button. The move follows earlier NHTSA scrutiny of Tesla’s crash‑reporting for its Autopilot and Full Self‑Driving systems. While Tesla has not detailed the redesign timeline, the discussion signals a response to regulatory concerns about potential passenger entrapment in emergencies. Lire la suite

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has launched an investigation into Tesla’s electronic door handles after multiple reports of occupants, especially children, becoming trapped inside vehicles. The probe focuses on an estimated 174,290 Model Y SUVs and examines whether low‑voltage battery problems are preventing the door locks from operating from outside the vehicle. While Tesla provides manual release mechanisms, the agency notes that they may be difficult for some users to operate. The investigation was prompted by nine incidents involving children unable to exit the vehicle, raising safety concerns about entrapment in hot conditions. Lire la suite

Tesla’s board has unveiled a compensation plan for CEO Elon Musk's pay that could reach $1 trillion if a series of ambitious targets are met. The plan hinges on delivering 20 million vehicles in total, operating 1 million robotaxis, producing 1 million Optimus robots, and signing up 10 million Full Self‑Driving subscriptions. It also requires the company to achieve an $8.5 trillion market valuation and outlines succession and political‑involvement safeguards. Shareholders will decide on the package at a forthcoming meeting. Lire la suite

Tesla's board has unveiled a compensation proposal that would make Elon Musk the first trillion‑dollar CEO if a 10‑year plan meets aggressive performance targets. The plan ties Musk’s payout to milestones such as lifting Tesla’s market value to $8.5 trillion, deploying one million robotaxis, and launching one million AI robots. It also requires Musk to remain with the company for at least seven and a half years to claim any shares, with full vesting after a decade. Shareholders will vote on the package, which the board says is essential to keep Musk focused on Tesla’s long‑term growth. Lire la suite

Tesla has made its Robotaxi smartphone app available to anyone with an iPhone in the United States, allowing users to join a waitlist for the autonomous ride‑hailing service. Android support is slated for later, and the company has shifted its safety monitor from the passenger seat to the driver’s seat as it expands its geofenced operating area in Austin and the San Francisco Bay Area. Lire la suite

Tesla unveiled its fourth “Master Plan,” outlining ambitions to lead in humanoid robots, sustainable energy and autonomous services. Critics say the document lacks concrete details, repeating broad language without measurable targets. The plan follows earlier master plans that promised specific products such as a solar‑roof‑with‑battery, compact SUVs, a semi‑truck, a pickup and an electric bus, many of which remain unrealized or in limited testing. Observers note that while Tesla is experimenting with an invite‑only robotaxi service, safety monitors still ride in the passenger seat, highlighting the gap between the vision and current capabilities. Lire la suite

Tesla CEO Elon Musk released the company's fourth master plan on Labor Day, outlining a vision of \ Lire la suite

Tesla unveiled its fourth “Master Plan,” outlining ambitions for humanoid robots and planet‑wide sustainable energy. Analysts and observers note the document is vague, missing concrete milestones, and echo concerns raised by CEO Elon Musk about its lack of specifics. The plan follows earlier master plans that set detailed goals for solar roofs, new vehicle models, and autonomous driving, many of which remain unfinished. Critics argue the story reads like generic talking points rather than a measurable roadmap, raising questions about Tesla’s ability to deliver on its expansive vision. Lire la suite

Tesla announced the shutdown of its Dojo AI supercomputer project and the disbanding of the team behind it. Elon Musk described Dojo as an "evolutionary dead end" after the company secured a $16.5 billion deal for Samsung‑produced AI6 chips. The focus is now on the Cortex training cluster and partnerships with Nvidia, AMD and Samsung to power Full Self‑Driving and Optimus development. The move marks a strategic pivot from an in‑house supercomputer to a broader hardware ecosystem. Lire la suite

Tesla’s latest Master Plan, posted on X, shifts focus from electric vehicles to artificial intelligence, robotics and a vague vision of “sustainable abundance.” Analysts note the document’s brevity, buzzword‑heavy language and absence of concrete milestones, contrasting it with earlier plans that outlined specific product goals. Critics also point to Musk’s recent ventures—acquiring Twitter, launching xAI, and the under‑performing Cybertruck—while highlighting Tesla’s declining sales and unfinished promises. The piece concludes that the new plan reads more like a philosophical essay than an actionable roadmap. Lire la suite

Chinese consumers are showing less enthusiasm for electric vehicles from Tesla and BYD, signaling a cooling market. BYD now accounts for a small share of new car sales in the European Union, while Tesla reported strong sales in Turkey, ranking as the country’s second‑most popular automaker. CEO Elon Musk continues to tout Tesla’s humanoid robot as a future revenue driver, claiming it could eventually generate the majority of the company’s value. The contrast between shifting buyer sentiment and ambitious robot plans highlights divergent challenges and opportunities for the two manufacturers. Lire la suite

Tesla released the fourth installment of its Master Plan in a post on X, but analysts say the document reads more like a poetic manifesto than a concrete roadmap. While it promises \ Lire la suite