Some Cybertrucks Are Finally Getting FSD (AutoWeek, October 1, 2024)

Tesla’s Cybertruck has been the only Tesla vehicle that has not been equipped with Tesla’s Full Self-Driving since it was introduced to the market in 2023. However, with Tesla’s most recent software update, Full Self-Driving (Supervised), Tesla has activated the driving assistance feature to some Cybertrucks. The Tesla update, v12.5.5, which many believe to be one of Tesla’s most advanced updates, claims to enhance the driving experience with “more natural lane change decisions” and incorporates the use of AI. Tesla stated, “This is an early access build. You and anyone you authorize must use additional caution and remain attentive. It does not make your vehicle autonomous. Do not become complacent.” FSD (Supervised) has remained an SAE Level 2 driving system, but it appears that Tesla may be trying to move into a “Level 2.5,” as it incorporates advanced features while maintaining the necessary driver attention requirements.

Tesla, Musk beat shareholder lawsuit over self-driving promises (Reuters, September 30, 2024)

On Monday, U.S. District Judge Araceli Martinez-Olguin ruled in favor of Tesla and Elon Musk over Tesla shareholders who claimed that the carmaker was overstating the safety and effectiveness of Autopilot and Full Self-Driving in order to increase its stock price. Judge Martinez-Olguin stated that the shareholders were not able to show that Tesla and Musk should be liable for the false promises, but that many of Musk’s statements were addressing future expectations. The judge dismissed the lawsuit without prejudice, but Tesla is still facing investigations from the Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission, and a lawsuit filed by the California Department of Motor Vehicles, regarding its self-driving claims.

Safest Electric Cars of 2024 (Kelley Blue Book, September 26, 2024)

The selection of the safest electric cars of 2024 emphasizes not just critical factors like range and charging time but the paramount importance of safety for family vehicles. The list includes vehicles awarded a Top Safety Pick (TSP) or Top Safety Pick+ by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and a five-star rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Prioritizing extensive IIHS testing, models awaiting NHTSA evaluation are included based on their anticipated high safety standards. Highlighted models feature a range of advanced safety technologies, including adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and emergency braking systems, with top picks being the 2024 Audi Q4 e-tron, Genesis Electrified G80, Hyundai Ioniq 5, and the Rivian R1T, among others. As IIHS continues to assess more models, the roster of recognized safe electric vehicles is expected to expand, underscoring evolving safety benchmarks in the electric vehicle market. The full list can be viewed here.

Biden administration seeks to ban Chinese, Russian tech in US autonomous vehicles (The Associated Press, September 23, 2024)

The US Department of Commerce announced on Monday that it is seeking to ban all connected vehicles that have Chinese or Russian technology or software installed beginning in model year 2027 vehicles in an effort to protect national security. The government raised its concerns over microphones, cameras, GPS, and Bluetooth technology that could put American personal information in the hands of a foreign adversary. This concern is more complicated for hardware, which is more laborious to replace, while a vehicle’s software can be changed much quicker.

“This is not about trade or economic advantage. This is strictly national security action. The good news is right now, we don’t have many Chinese or Russian cars on our road,” stated U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. 

Tesla Model Y Inches Closer to Dethroning Ford F-150 As U.S.’ Best-Selling Vehicle (Inside EVs, September 23, 2024)

The Tesla Model Y is on the verge of becoming America’s top-selling vehicle, building on its global success from last year. Recent data shows the Model Y challenging the Toyota Rav4 and the longstanding leader, the Ford F-150, in new U.S. registrations. Last year, the Model Y ranked fifth in sales, behind the Toyota Rav4, Ram 1500, Chevrolet Silverado, and Ford F-series. Mid-year, it climbed to fourth but now holds nearly 2.6% of new registrations, just shy of the Rav4’s 2.8%. The Model Y’s appeal lies in its ability to meet core consumer needs, reflecting a broader acceptance of EVs among Americans. Despite challenges such as CEO controversies and potential depreciation, Tesla’s reputation for desirable vehicles remains strong. If the Model Y surpasses the Ford F-series, it would mark a significant shift in U.S. automotive preferences, emphasizing SUVs, electrification, and high truck prices influencing buyer decisions.

 Texas Lawmakers Working on Rules for Autonomous Vehicles (Government Technology, September 19, 2024)

Texas lawmakers are proposing new regulations for companies operating driverless cars and trucks, such as Waymo, Cruise, and Aurora. State Sen. Robert Nichols emphasized the need for rules to ensure safe use of Texas roads while not stifling innovation. The legislation in the upcoming session will require companies to inform the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles when drivers are removed from vehicles for solo trips. These rules will apply to fleets of driverless cars and trucks, not privately owned vehicles. Lawmakers want to integrate driverless vehicles into existing regulations without disrupting the industry’s progress. The goal is to strike a balance between innovation and public safety, as seen in previous issues with driverless cars causing gridlock in cities like Houston and Austin.

IIHS study shows drivers more distracted with partial automation systems (CBT News, September 17, 2024)

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has highlighted a worrying trend of increased driver distractions, such as phone use and eating, when using partial automation systems like Tesla’s Autopilot and Volvo’s Pilot Assist. These systems, designed to aid with routine driving through technologies such as sensors and cameras, can inadvertently lead to driver complacency. The IIHS study reveals that drivers often meet only minimal requirements to keep these systems engaged, leading to risky behavior. Despite the potential of these systems to enhance safety, the ease of use may cause excessive reliance on automation. The rise of these technologies has sparked concerns about driver distraction, prompting investigations into related accidents. The IIHS advocates for stronger safeguards and driver engagement to prevent misuse and ensure safety. As the push for automated driving technology intensifies, manufacturers must balance innovation with safety to truly enhance road safety without providing a false sense of security.

Tesla Semi Crash Required 50000 Gallons of Water, Fire-Fighting Aircraft to Put Out Blaze (Road & Track, September 13, 2024)

Last month, a Tesla Semi truck crash in California resulted in a significant fire, requiring firefighters to use 50,000 gallons of water to extinguish it. The NTSB announced that air support was called in to drop flame retardant to prevent the fire from spreading to nearby forest areas. The crash involved a Tesla employee driving the truck to a facility in Sparks, Nevada. At the time of the incident, ADAS were purportedly inactive. The crash occurred on Interstate 80 near Lake Tahoe, closing the highway for 14 hours. The truck was monitored for 24 hours post-fire to prevent re-ignition, a risk in lithium-ion fires due to their chemical composition providing all necessary fire elements.

Tesla Model 3 Prices Dropping Like A ‘Lead Balloon,’ Says Study (Inside EVs, September 10, 2024)

As the demand for electric vehicles has dropped over the past year in the US, electric cars are depreciating much faster than traditional gas and hybrid vehicles. Resale prices of used electric vehicles dropped 25% over the past year, which means consumers can purchase a high-tech electric vehicle for less than the average price of a used ICE vehicle. In a study published last week by automotive research firm, iSeeCars, the prices of the Tesla Model 3, Nissan Leaf, Hyundai Kona Electric, and Kia Niro EV have been dropping six times faster than ICE vehicles over the past year.

“The substantial drop in EV prices over the past year appears to have brought them in line with demand, with used EV days-on-market much lower today, reflecting a faster selling rate compared to a year ago,” stated iSeeCars analyst Karl Brauer.

Tesla launches ‘actually smart summon’ or ‘ass’ (Electrek, September 3, 2024)

Tesla has introduced the long-awaited Actually Smart Summon (ASS) feature, alongside a simpler Dumb Summon option, in its latest software update. Actually Smart Summon enables Tesla owners to call their vehicle from a parking spot to a chosen nearby location via the Tesla App. The release notes humorously describe ASS as a magical tech experience, allowing your car to autonomously navigate to your position or destination.

Dumb Summon offers basic functionality, allowing the car to move forward or backward with app-based controls. To use these features, owners simply access the Summon tab in the Tesla app, gaining live camera feeds to oversee the vehicle’s movements. While employing these features, vigilant supervision is advised, particularly in parking scenarios. Currently, ASS is available for cars equipped with Hardware 4, with future availability for Hardware 3 suggested imminently.

Woman using hands-free driving feature hits car, killing 2 in Pennsylvania, cops say (Miami Herald, September 3, 2024)

A Pennsylvania woman, Dimple Patel, turned herself in on Tuesday this week after hitting and killing two men while driving her Ford Mustang Mach-E in the vehicle’s hands-free driving mode back in March of this year. At around 3 AM on March 3 in Philadelphia, two drivers were pulled over on Interstate 95 when Patel’s yellow Mach-E slammed into a vehicle from behind, killing both men. The Mach-E is reported to have been traveling at around 70 miles per hour with  BlueCruise hands-free driving feature enabled, as well as Adaptive Cruise Control when the crash occurred. Ford has commented on the incident, stating, “There is no priority higher than safety at Ford, and we have been collaborating fully with all relevant organizations on the investigations into these incidents.”

The marketing materials for Ford’s BlueCruise state that drivers should continue to keep their eyes on the road when BlueCruise is enabled. Pennsylvania State Police urge drivers to “be aware and ready to regain control if the situation warrants your immediate reaction.”

Researchers probe safety of AI in driverless cars, find vulnerabilities (Tech Xplore, September 2, 2024)

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a critical component in self-driving vehicles, facilitating decision-making, sensing, and predictive modeling. However, its vulnerability to attacks is a concern being explored by researchers at the University at Buffalo. Their studies indicate that malicious actors could potentially manipulate these AI systems, causing them to fail. For instance, 3D-printed objects might camouflage a vehicle from AI radar systems, rendering it undetectable.

Although current autonomous vehicles remain safe, this research could impact the automotive and tech industries, and influence regulatory policies. Tests conducted at UB have shown that the most commonly used radar systems for object detection, though reliable, can be compromised using strategically placed “tile masks.” These discoveries underline potential attack motives such as insurance fraud or competition, and highlight the gap in security measures, which researchers aim to address by developing robust defenses.

Questions about the safety of Tesla’s ‘Full Self-Driving’ system are growing (The Associated Press, August 28, 2024)

William Stein, a technology analyst at Truist Securities, has tried the latest version of Tesla’s Full Self-Driving system several times over the last few months at the invitation of Elon Musk. He reported that his most recent test drive left him feeling unsafe after the vehicle made several illegal maneuvers, and it left his 16-year-old son, who joined him during the drive, “terrified.”

Tesla’s FSD software, now called “Full Self-Driving (Supervised),” uses artificial intelligence to control steering and pedals. Stein reported that the ride felt more human than previous rides, but that the vehicle “made a left turn from a through lane while running a red light,” during a drive that lasted less than 10 miles. Stein told Tesla investors that the system does not “appear to approach robotaxi capabilities,” as the carmaker is expected to unveil a new robotaxi in the next few months. Tesla has not responded to messages seeking a comment after Stein’s report.

Tesla can challenge Louisiana direct sales ban, US appeal court rules (Reuters, August 26, 2024)

In a 2-1 decision, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals revived Tesla’s lawsuit challenging Louisiana’s prohibition on direct vehicle sales to consumers. The court reversed an earlier dismissal of Tesla’s constitutional due process claim and vacated the dismissal of its antitrust claim, though it upheld the dismissal of Tesla’s equal protection claim. Tesla filed the lawsuit in August 2022 against members of the Louisiana Motor Vehicle Commission and the Louisiana Automobile Dealers Association, alleging these groups exploited their control to eliminate Tesla from the market due to its direct sales model. Tesla claimed that since 2017, Louisiana unlawfully banned direct sales and limited leasing and servicing of its cars. Judge Jerry Smith noted Tesla sufficiently alleged “plausible actual bias” from the commission via internal communications. The case now returns to U.S. District Judge Sarah Vance, who initially dismissed it.

US closes one of 2 probes into behavior of GM Cruise autonomous vehicles after recall (ABC News, August 22, 2024)

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has announced that it is closing one of two investigations into the performance of GM’s Cruise robotaxis after the carmaker agreed to a recall. The investigation began in December of 2022 with over 7,000 reports of hard braking and complete stops by the autonomous vehicles. Cruise finally agreed to recall all of its robotaxis for the braking concerns and has fixed the problem through a software update. “In view of the recall action taken by Cruise and ODI’s (NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation) analysis of available data, including data presented by Cruise demonstrating a reduced occurrence of hard braking incidents after the software updates, ODI is closing this preliminary evaluation,” NHTSA stated.

However, NHTSA continues to investigate the Cruise vehicles after reports of the robotaxis encroaching on pedestrians in roadways and crosswalks, including the October 2023 incident involving a Cruise robotaxi dragging a pedestrian in San Francisco.

Zeekr tackles EV range anxiety with 10-minute battery charge (Automotive News Europe, August 14, 2024)

Chinese carmaker Zeekr may have just solved range anxiety with its new lithium iron phosphate vehicle battery that is able to charge from 10% to 80% in under 11 minutes. Range anxiety, the fear that your vehicle’s battery will be depleted before reaching a charging station or your destination, has been a major concern for consumers who have been skeptical about the adoption of electric vehicles, which has resulted in the rise in popularity of hybrid vehicles. Zeekr’s new batteries will be available in the Zeekr 007 sedan, which will begin delivery in China as early as next week. 

Zeekr, an EV-only carmaker, is a part of Geely Auto, the automobile manufacturer that also owns Volvo, Polestar, and Lotus. Zeekr currently has plans to begin sales of its vehicles in Europe, Latin America and other Asian markets in the near future.

You’ve heard of carjacking – but what about carhacking? (Yahoo! Tech, August 10, 2024)

In today’s digital age, smart devices permeate everyday life, including vehicles, which are now facing unique cybersecurity threats. Hackers exploit car systems using various techniques, often aided by AI. For example, AI can manipulate autonomous vehicle systems, as demonstrated by a hack that misread a speed limit, causing a Tesla Model S to dangerously accelerate.

Connected vehicles present hackers with new avenues of attack, especially through Vehicle to Grid (V2G) communication, where man-in-the-middle attacks can intercept communications. EV charging stations also pose risks, potentially distributing malware for unintended purposes like bitcoin mining. Moreover, hackers can steal login information, bypassing two-factor authentication. Bluetooth systems are another vulnerability, enabling attacks like BLE relay to intercept vehicle communications. Despite these threats, car manufacturers invest in enhanced security measures, working with government and agencies to fortify cybersecurity, ensuring safer connected cars.

DOD Needs Solutions for the Proliferation of Autonomous Vehicles, Defense Official Says (U.S. Department of Defense, August 9, 2024)

On August 9th, Heidi Shyu, the undersecretary of defense for research and engineering, was a panelist at the National Defense Industrial Association’s 2024 Emerging Technologies for Defense Conference and Exhibition in Washington, D.C.  At the conference, she spoke about the Defense Departments need to combat the growing number of autonomous systems, including aircraft, ground vehicles, and watercraft.  There are rules and limitations in the U.S. for how the military can engage with these systems if they should become a threat. “Shyu said while there are solutions being worked now, the Defense Department is interested in having industry proffer even more options for it and the military services to consider”.  The Defense Department is looking for ideas in contested logistics, where adversaries attempt to disrupt, destroy, or defeat friendly force logistics operations. 

Tesla in Seattle-area crash that killed motorcyclist was using self-driving system, authorities say (AP, July 30, 2024)

Investigators in Washington state have determined that an April crash in which a Tesla Model S hit and killed a motorcyclist about 15 miles north of Seattle was engaged in Tesla’s Full Self-Driving system at the time of the incident, according to EDR data from the vehicle. The Tesla driver told a state trooper that he was looking at his phone while Autopilot was engaged, and “the next thing he knew there was a bang and the vehicle lurched forward as it accelerated and collided with the motorcycle in front of him.”

The death of the motorcyclist, Jeffrey Nilsen, is the second fatality in the United States involving Full Self-Driving according to investigation documents from NHTSA. The investigation is ongoing, and it currently is unclear if FSD is at fault in the fatality.

Tesla has not commented on this recent development in the investigation, but this news comes only a week after Elon Musk stated that he expects FSD to run without human supervision by the end of 2024.

Volkswagen And Rivian Are Teaming Up On Software In $5 Billion Deal (Inside EVs, July 29, 2024)

On Tuesday, automakers Rivian and Volkswagen announced they are partnering to create software for their future electric vehicles.  Volkswagen has a long history of producing cars and making a profit, however they have struggled with their software.  Rivian is widely regarded for its software and user experience but lacks funding.  The money VW plans to invest does come with some strings attached.  Rivian will need to meet certain financial and technological milestones.  Volkswagen will invest an initial $1 billion with plans to invest another $4 billion in the future.  

Rivian CEO R.J. Scaringe said during a conference call on Tuesday. “Each company will continue to separately operate their respective vehicle businesses.”

Automakers Sold Driver Data To Insurance Companies For Next To Nothing (Jalopnik, July 26, 2024)

Two U.S. Senators, Ron Wyden and Edward J. Markey, are urging the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to investigate how automakers are collecting and selling driver data to insurance companies at low prices. This follows a report by The New York Times indicating General Motors, Hyundai, and Honda are involved in selling data such as acceleration patterns, braking habits, and speeding frequencies to insurance companies to assess driver risk. Highlights from the investigation revealed automakers made minimal profits from these sales, with Honda receiving 26 cents per car from Verisk, and Hyundai earning 61 cents per car. GM declined to specify exact figures, but sources confirm low millions of dollars for data on eight million cars. The senators criticize the vague and often deceptive ways drivers are informed about data collection, with some automakers still sharing location data without clear consent. This marks the third congressional appeal to the FTC to scrutinize such data practices.

California needs a million EV charging stations – but that’s ‘unlikely’ and ‘unrealistic’ (KPBS, July 16, 2024)

With state projections expecting to reach 7 million electric vehicles on California roads by the end of 2030 – 10 times more electric vehicles than at the end of last year – California will have to build an unprecedented number of public charging stations to meet demands. To reach a target of 2.1 million chargers in 2035, the state will have to create 129,000 new stations every year for the next seven years, which is more than 7 times the current pace.

“It is very unlikely that we hit our goals, and to be completely frank, the EV goals are a noble aspiration, but unrealistic,” stated Bruce Cain, a Stanford professor and co-author of a policy briefing on California’s electric vehicle charging issues. California will need billions of dollars for power grid upgrades to connect the chargers, as well as ensuring public chargers are available in rural and less-affluent areas of the state.

“The infrastructure is continuing to be rolled out at a rapid pace,” said Liane Randolph, board chair of the California Air Resources Board. “It doesn’t all have to be perfect instantly. It’s a process. And it’s a process that’s continuing to move.”

Musk signals delays to robotaxi unveiling for key design change (Reuters, July 15, 2024)

Elon Musk announced earlier this year that Tesla would be unveiling its fully autonomous robotaxi on August 8th, but a recent response to a post about the event signals otherwise.  “Requested what I think is an important design change to the front, and extra time allows us to show off a few other things,” Musk said on X. No date has been announced by the automaker as to when we can expect a launch.  Musk has given minimal details about the robotaxis other than some would be owned and operated by Tesla and some would be owned by individuals and rented out on Tesla’s network.  Time will tell if Musk debuts his robotaxi this year or if it will be delayed like many of his other promised releases.

Autonomous Vehicles Face Real-World Challenges: A Look at Baidu’s Recent Incident in China (Power Nation, July 9, 2024)

In Wuhan, China, a Baidu-operated autonomous vehicle recently hit a pedestrian crossing against a red light. When the light turned green, the car moved and only made minor contact with the pedestrian, who was hospitalized but not seriously injured. Social media reactions in China mainly blamed the pedestrian for crossing against the signal, with news outlets echoing this sentiment. The incident underscores a key challenge for autonomous vehicles: dealing with unpredictable human actions. Despite extensive research and testing, autonomous cars still struggle in such scenarios. Baidu’s Apollo Go service, with a significant fleet in Wuhan, continues to refine this technology. On a broader scale, there are consumer concerns about the safety of self-driving cars. A Forbes Advisor survey revealed that 93% of Americans are wary of these vehicles, primarily due to safety and technology malfunction worries.

Chinese self-driving cars have quietly traveled 1.8 million miles on U.S. roads, collecting detailed data with cameras and lasers (Fortune, July 8, 2024)

Since 2017, self-driving cars owned by Chinese companies have traveled 1.8 million miles in California alone.  The cars are part of a state program that allows companies who are developing self-driving technology to test on their roadways. The self-driving vehicles are equipped with cameras and LIDAR which map roadways within 2 centimeters of precision.  Many people are concerned about what kind of data is being collected by these Chinese cars and where the data is sent once it is collected, since there is no federal or state oversight.  It is raising security concerns because the data can be used for war strategy and can track movements, such as where individuals go to worship, schools, and other places. 

Currently there appears to be no government agency that monitors the data that Chinese self-driving cars collect and their national security implications. “The U.S. federal government is just [so] wholly inundated with looking at a raft of other China-related challenges that unfortunately, this particular issue is probably number 18 or 19 on the priority list,” said Singleton from the Foundation for Defense of Democracies.  There is still hope, though.  If the government makes moves now in regulating, they won’t have to play catch up.

Chinese EVs posing threat to U.S. automakers despite increase in tariffs (CBT News, July 5, 2024)

Despite the recent announcement from the White House that tariffs on Chinese EVs are increasing from 25% to 100%, Chinese automakers are expected to achieve 33% market share globally by 2030, according to a study from global consulting firm AlixPartners. China has dominated in battery production and the battery supply chain, and Chinese automakers, such as BYD, continue to dominate the global market (see above). AlixPartners has described an “overtime culture” in China that allows for Chinese companies to release new vehicles and products much quicker than many overseas rivals. While the U.S. has imposed tariffs against Chinese EVs, it appears to be only a “short-term band aid” to protect American legacy automakers. China continues to “out-innovate” the U.S. in terms of battery production and technology, and it seems to only be a matter of time before China takes its seat as the global leader in electric vehicles.

Mercedes Exec Blasts Tesla For Reckless “Full Self-Driving” Rollout (The Byte., July 3, 2024)

According to Mercedes exec Jochen Haab, Elon Musk’s Tesla has utilized its customers as beta testers for its expensive Full Self-Driving (FSD) software, leading to numerous crashes and fatalities, prompting regulatory investigations. Haab advocates for a cautious, step-by-step approach to build trust in autonomous driving technology. He criticizes Tesla’s aggressive marketing, suggesting it misleads drivers into overestimating the software’s capabilities, thereby increasing road dangers. Haab believes the perceived overpromise and underperformance of Tesla’s FSD have eroded public confidence in self-driving technology. Mercedes contrasts its strategy by limiting beta testing to trained professionals and recently getting approval for its Level 3 autonomous driving system in California and Nevada, which surpasses Tesla’s Level 2 FSD.

Elon Musk Says ‘Safety First’ Over Convenience As Tesla Scales Up FSD To Fulfill Autonomous Driving Future (Benzinga, July 3, 2024)

“Safety first, then the convenience features,” stated Elon Musk on X, responding to Sam Pullara, CTO at of Sutter Hill Ventures, who had posted a list of features that he would like to see on Tesla’s full self-driving (FSD) driver assistance technology in the future. Pullara stated he would like to see FSD pull the vehicle over to allow people to pass if they are traveling faster, identifying poor drivers, and allowing the vehicle to roll through stop signs. Musk responded that, “[s]ome of this stuff like the rolling stop is technically illegal, so NHTSA gets upset, but 99% of people do it.”

Tesla and Musk are focused on improving the FSD software to be able to operate without human intervention, but most recently had to delay rolling out the newest version of FSD due to a loss of driving smoothness. But despite years of promises for a fully autonomous system, FSD still requires active driver alertness and supervision.

Toyota to unveil first ‘full’ self driving EV next year as it chases Tesla (Electrek, June 28, 2024)

Toyota is gearing up to reveal its first EV equipped with an advanced self-driving system as part of its quest to narrow the gap with industry leaders like Tesla. This initiative comes through its joint venture, GAC Toyota, a collaboration between Toyota Motor and China’s Guangzhou Automobile Group. The venture’s announcement on social media indicated plans to introduce an EV in China next year, boasting capabilities akin to Tesla’s Full Self Drive. The new model, Bozhi 3X SUV, will incorporate cutting-edge autonomous driving features, including road navigation, obstacle avoidance, and automated parking. Toyota’s partnership with Momenta, an autonomous vehicle startup, facilitated the integration of this technology. Additionally, GAC Toyota is collaborating with Huawei to integrate tech into Toyota’s bZ3X electric sedan, further solidifying the brand’s position in the competitive EV market landscape.

Tesla Is About to Lose Its EV Market Majority in the US (Bloomberg, June 26, 2024)

For the past six years, Tesla has outsold all other EV manufacturers combined in the US. However, this might end soon as traditional automakers catch up. From June 2022 to May 2023, Tesla sold about 618,000 electric cars in the US, whereas other manufacturers sold approximately 597,000. Despite Tesla’s continued market leadership, its US sales dropped 13% in Q1 2023, while competitors like Ford and Hyundai/Kia saw significant increases. Analysts use state registration data and international sales reports to estimate Tesla’s US deliveries since the company reports sales quarterly without regional specifics. CEO Elon Musk’s politics and Tesla’s limited model range contribute to the challenge, with most sales coming from just two models. Despite the competition, Tesla still dominates the global EV market, making the best-selling Model Y and maintaining the highest valuation among car companies. Still, its future dominance in the US EV market remains uncertain.