Musk Calls Out Gates' 'Hypocrisy' on Tesla Stance Amid Discussions on Climate Philanthropy

The ongoing feud between Elon Musk and Bill Gates

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Many Tesla and Elon Musk stories will be made public with Walter Isaacson's recently released Musk biography. Another excerpt posted on CNBC has already produced a fresh escalation in the strained relationship between Musk and Bill Gates. The renewed dispute centered around Gates' alleged ongoing massive short bet against Tesla.

Musk Defended Tesla Then and Now

While the usual suspects, mainstream media, painted Musk as a mean bully to Gates, Tesla's CEO took to X to clear the air in a fiery post defending Tesla and attacking Gates. Musk expressed his dismay at Gates, accusing him of holding a short position on Tesla stock, a tactic where gains are maximized if the company faced bankruptcy. Musk emphasized the contradictory nature of Gates seeking cooperation on philanthropic environmental endeavors while potentially profiting massively from Tesla's downfall, a company at the forefront of green technology.

Just so that the public understands: Taking out a short position against Tesla, as Gates did, results in the highest return only if a company goes bankrupt!

Gates placed a massive bet on Tesla dying when our company was at one of its weakest moments several years ago. Such a big short position also drives the stock down for everyday investors.

To the best of my knowledge, Gates *still* has that massive bet against Tesla on the table. Someone should ask him if he does.

The lack of self-awareness and hypocrisy of Gates who had the nerve to ask me to donate to his mostly window-dressing environmental causes, while simultaneously aiming to make $500M from Tesla's demise, boggles the mind …

Taking it a step further, Musk, responding to a follower's comment, encouraged interviewers to ask Gates about his favorite Caribbean island, hinting at a darker angle to the feud, referencing Gates' ties to Jeffrey Epstein. This provocative stance has stirred a buzz online, urging followers to anticipate Gates' response or the possibility of this query being raised in future interviews.

Background of the Dispute

The discord between the two billionaires is not new; it took a serious turn when Gates visited Musk in March 2022, as narrated in Isaacson's biography. Gates had shorted Tesla, a move that didn't sit well with Musk, who viewed it as a bet against the sustainable future Tesla is working towards. The meeting ended on a sour note, with Musk unable to look past the financial move Gates had made.

While the antagonism is evident, their relationship has had moments of respect and acknowledgment for each other's achievements. Despite criticizing Musk's focus on Mars and other technological advances, Gates has praised Musk for pushing the boundaries of science and innovation. This complicated dynamic adds depth to their ongoing feud, painting a picture of two titans with deep-seated differences yet mutual recognition of each other's impact on the tech industry.

Public Reaction and Speculations

The X post generated a lot of reactions, with the public eagerly dissecting every aspect of this disagreement. While some support Musk's standpoint, others are apprehensive about the aggressive approach adopted in calling out Gates publicly. Speculations are rife on whether this would usher in a new era of openness in billionaire disputes, shedding the veils of diplomacy.

As the book is devoured by fans, critics, enthusiasts and haters, many more stories will be coming out that may need more explanation. As the world watches this feud unfold, the fundamental question remains — what is the nature of Gates' current investment in Tesla, and how will he respond to Musk's public calling out? The saga brings to light the intense competition and different philosophies guiding two of this era's most influential tech moguls, with the world eagerly waiting for Gates' next move. The stakes are high, not just in financial terms but in the clash of ideologies over philanthropy, climate change, and the roadmap to a sustainable future.

A Closer Look at Tesla's Ambient Lighting Feature in the New Model 3 and Cybertruck [Video]

Tesla introduced a wrap-around ambient lighting strip to its new Model 3

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If you look up ambient lights for Tesla, you'll see several ads for third-party light kits. Perhaps this is why Tesla added its own Ambient Lights feature to the new Model 3. So, let's get enlightened.

Tesla's ambient lights are thin light strips that are embedded in each of the vehicle's doors near the top edge. It also curves around the dashboard near the windshield, giving passengers a near 360-degree light effect.

Supported Models

Tesla new ambient light feature is available on the new Model 3 (2024+), and will be available on the Cybertruck in a similar manner. With a refresh ongoing for the Model Y, known as Juniper, it will likely also have ambient lights. That just leaves out the most luxurious flagship vehicles, the Model S and X, for now.

The Model S and Model X could be due for a minor refresh that would not only add ambient lighting, but also include a front-bumper camera that the Cybertruck has and the new Model 3 is expected to have in the near future.

Customization

Tesla introduced a wrap-around ambient lighting strip to its new Model 3

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The ambient light settings allow you to light up the interior in a color that reflects your mood or preference. Under Controls > Lights > Accent Lights, you are handed the freedom to choose virtually any color to adorn the interior of your Tesla.

You have control over whether the ambient lights are on, off, or set to an "Auto" setting, though not fully clarified, seems to promise intelligent lighting adjustments akin to our control over dome lights, offering a reduction in reflections during drives.

While the ability to control the brightness level seems missing, Tesla did include color presets, letting you curate a series of your favorite colors.

It should be noted that the changes are confined to the light strips on the doors and dash, steering clear of the footwell lights and other interior lighting.

Future Enhancements

With Tesla, we can be assured there will be enhancements to this feature in a future update. In fact, the Tesla community is already busy coming up with useful suggestions. Some owners thought Tesla should take advantage of the lighting to provide driver feedback, such as automatically changing the ambient lighting to a red hue when there's a vehicle in your blind spot. Tesla could also glow the light strip on a door if it's not closed properly, or use the lighting to provide feedback when Sentry Mode is enabled.

Other uses could be more fun, such as cycling the light through various colors when the 'Rainbow Road' easter egg is activated.

Ambient Lighting in Action

While the possibilities are endless and Tesla engineers will surely have fun coming up with creative uses for the feature, the biggest improvement we can hope for in the near future is the ability to adjust the light intensity.

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Tesla Model 3 'Highland' Performance Details Discovered in European Documents

Tesla's new Model 3 received a host of exterior and interior upgrades

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Tesla outdid itself with the refreshed Model 3, known as the Highland. Despite all the fantastic upgrades, something is missing - the Performance version or perhaps the Plaid. The letter "T" has shown up on vehicle certificates in Europe, and despite Elon Musk's sense of humor, it is unlikely this is a Mr. T reference.

Deciphering the 'T'

A new document shows the new Model 3 Performance will have a dual motor

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Diligent scrutiny of the European Type Certificate, issued by the Dutch vehicle authority RDW and shared on the TFF Forum, revealed a subtle yet pivotal alteration — including the letter 'T' in the eighth digit of the Model 3 Performance's VIN.

This seemingly minor detail, indicative of the vehicle's motor/drive unit type, sparked curiosity and speculation on the forum. Could it be a tri-motor setup to usher in a new Plaid version of the Model 3? This vehicle has already got endless amounts of zip, but three motors? May The Schwartz Be With You!

This could also explain the Model 3+ badging that was spotted during the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) in China inspection of the refresh. However, the regulatory filings highlighted just two distinct variants of the car: a rear-wheel drive (RWD) with a 194 kW motor and an all-wheel drive (AWD) dual-motor setup that combines to deliver a formidable 331 kW of maximum power.

Initial conjectures leaned towards the possibility of a tri-motor setup, drawing parallels with the Plaid variants of the Model S and Model X. However, a deeper dive into the certification document clarified that the Model 3 Performance retained its Dual Motor setup, dispelling the possibility of a tri-motor upgrade.

Strategic Enhancements: A Glimpse into Potential Upgrades

Given the documented specifications, it becomes plausible that Tesla has strategically enhanced one of the dual motors, potentially aligning it with the advanced motor found in the Model S/X Plaid. This modification is poised to augment the top-end speed and acceleration of the Model 3 Performance, addressing its comparative limitations in extended races against traditional gas-powered supercars.

Meanwhile, the Model 3 refresh has become the new Bigfoot of the roads of North America, with rare sightings posted on social media. However, it appears the continent is excluded from the initial launch of the Model 3 Highland. Internal communications within Tesla suggest North American enthusiasts might have to exercise patience until 2024.

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