Joe Tegtmeyer, a drone pilot who has been providing aerial footage of Giga Texas for more than three years, posted more footage that will make Tesla Cybertruck reservation holders happy.
The latest insights paint a picture of revitalized activity at Gigafactory Texas, revealing that "most of the employees have come back to work." The busy parking lots and lines of employees awaiting transport, unseen for the past three weeks, underscore a renewed momentum.
Crafting the Master Candidates
Tegtmeyer's coverage goes all around the factory, but he caught a rare glimpse of what could be the unicorn, the actual production-ready Cybertruck. Weather conditions the night before had left the covers off what are believed to be two Master Candidates. "I was fortunate to capture these images while the car cover was off because of some storms that came through last night," he shares, showcasing the Cybertrucks' refined state and readiness for production.
"These are the final candidates being produced to ensure all the tooling is correct, all the training is correct," explains Tegtmeyer, highlighting the crucial role these units play in ironing out the nuances of production.
This series, also known as the 800 series, is notably closer to the final production version than the earlier release candidates of series six that we spotted around the country over the last couple of months. Insights suggest that Tesla's leadership was set to conduct a final evaluation of the Cybertrucks, a decisive step before giving the green light to official production.
Identifying these vehicles as Master Candidates has sparked online speculations and noticeable changes for reservation holders on Tesla's platform. "It's great to see," remarks Tegtmeyer, discussing the anticipation surrounding these vehicles, pivotal in validating the production line's final changes and operations.
Ensuring Precision and Final Adjustments
Tegtmeyer sheds light on Tesla's meticulous approach with the Master Candidates, emphasizing their significance in ensuring tooling precision, thorough training, and making last-minute adjustments. "These Master Candidates are great to see," Tegtmeyer stated, signaling the culmination of extensive preparation and refinement ahead of full-scale production.
Reflecting on the progress and the visible refinement of the Cybertrucks on site, Tegtmeyer observes, "It really looks great and it does look like it's probably a Master Candidate," we could not agree more! The detailed exploration at Gigafactory Texas has given potential customers and us a closer look at the much-anticipated Cybertruck. The revealed images, insider information, and Tegtmeyer's commentary collectively build anticipation as Tesla inches closer to officially rolling the Cybertruck off the production line.
It’s that time of year again - it's getting colder, the snow might be falling, and the bells are probably jingling. And you know what that means? It’s time to find some holiday gifts for that someone special in your life.
Whether you’re buying for yourself or gifting to a friend, we’ve put together a guide to help you decide.
S3XY Buttons & Stalks
Aren't they S3XY?
Not a Tesla App
One of the coolest accessories for your Tesla is, hands-down, the S3XY Buttons. Using them alongside the Enhauto commander that comes in the kit can give you a massive amount of new customizability and control over your vehicle.
You can set a command for each button like folding your vehicle’s mirrors, or turn on/off your seat heater, but you can also control certain options Tesla doesn’t currently offer, like manually preconditioning your battery.
Sadly, these aren’t compatible with the Cybertruck just yet, but Enhauto rolled out a new set of features for the 2024 Model 3 Highland, which uses the ambient light strips to warn you about traffic or other situations.
We also recently covered the launch of Enhauto’s new S3XY Stalks, which add stalks back to the new Model 3 and 2021+ Model S and X.
Use coupon code “NATA” for an additional 10% off anything at Enhauto.
Jowua Controllers
Wireless charging and Tesla compatible? They also look good? Every box is checked.
Not a Tesla App
Jowua makes a lot of fantastic Tesla accessories, but one of our favorites is their Tesla Controllers. You can get just the controller or a bundle. They’re comfortable to hold, the buttons are clicky and responsive, and they’re compatible with both your Tesla and your PC at home.
They’re multi-purpose, and the latest generation controllers can recharge on your Tesla’s wireless chargers too.
Use coupon code “NotATeslaApp” for an additional discount.
Abstract Ocean Hydrophobic Camera Covers
Super effective against water and grime - and a version for nearly every Tesla!
Not a Tesla App
Abstract Ocean also makes many accessories, but if we had to choose one that stands out, it's their Hydrophobic Camera Covers. They go over the rear camera of your vehicle and help keep mud, grime, and water off the lens.
We’ve linked the one for the Model 3 and Model Y above, but they also have versions for the Cybertruck, Model S, and Model X.
You can use the coupon code “NotATeslaApp” for an additional 10% off.
Tesbros Wraps
Carbon Fibre Console Wraps!
Not a Tesla App
Tesbros focuses on customization and cleaning, and they’ve got a lot of wraps. They've got everything you need to DIY wrap your vehicle, including interior and exterior wraps. So, if you want to wrap your vehicle or put on some carbon-fiber-like wraps on your dash, they’ve got what you need there. Check out their interior wraps here.
Also, check out their Interactive Wrap Visualizer to see what your Tesla would look like wrapped up in one of their many options - they sell both DIY and professional kits!
Tuxmat Custom-fit Mats
Perfect fit.
Not a Tesla App
Tuxmat makes custom-fit mats for vehicles - and they’re very high quality. They’re resistant to water, mud, salt, and whatever else you want to throw at them. They clip in seamlessly to your vehicle and look factory installed.
If you’re looking for a set of mats that will last, these took a lot of punishment in the author’s Model Y, and are still going nearly three years later without any wear or tear. Take a look at their mats at this link.
3D Spider Mats
Super sleek, super resistant, super affordable.
Not a Tesla App
Another option in the mats department is 3D Spider. Rather than the fabric-like feeling of the Tuxmats, 3D Spider offers thicker mats that will fit your vehicle nearly as well. They’re also a fair bit cheaper than Tuxmat. They make an excellent choice if budget is on your mind, and they’re nearly just as resistant as the Tuxmats above.
In terms of price-to-performance, these are some of the best Tesla mats you can get on the market - here’s a link to their store, but you can also buy them on Amazon.
T-Sportline Cybertruck Offroad Lightbar
A fantastic third-party lightbar option - without being permanent.
Not a Tesla App
The Cyberbeast’s off-road lightbar is taking a long time to ship—and there are plenty of AWD owners who want one, too. T-Sportline makes an off-road lightbar that mounts to the roof in a similar position as the OEM lightbar but without the glue on the windshield.
They also sell a quick disconnect and an L-rack mount, which means you can pull it off quickly and store it safely in the back of your truck when you’re not offroading. If you’re interested, shine your lights at this link.
Durable Sentry SSD
Waterproof, heatproof, coldproof, and dustproof. It'll survive it all!
Not a Tesla App
If you’re looking for a Sentry SSD that’s got greater capacity than the 128GB one that comes with your Tesla, look no further than the Samsung T7 Shield. It’s a rugged SSD that can withstand both heat and cold and is available in a 1TB, 2TB, or even 4TB capacity. They’re also sold directly on Amazon, making buying them easy.
Rally Armor Mud Flaps
They look sleek and protect more than the OEM flaps!
Not a Tesla App
The Tesla mud flaps can come off easily if you’re taking your vehicle down a rough dirt road or even in heavy snow. Rally Armor’s mud flaps are some of the best in the business - they’re flexible, solidly attached, and will keep your car from getting any dings from rocks or gravel flying up. Check them out on Amazon.
Touchscreen Protectors
Super easy to install, and you and you can get them in matte or gloss!
Not a Tesla App
The touchscreen in your car is the primary means to interact with it. If you or your passenger accidentally smash a phone into it, trying to drop it on the wireless charger, it's a pretty penny to get it fixed.
Instead of taking the risk, a tempered glass screen protector—available in matte or gloss—will help. The best part? They’ll keep those pesky fingerprints off, too, so you won’t have to wipe down that display as often.
If you or the Tesla owner in your life always gets out of your car and turns around to admire it, well, it better be clean. Car cleaning kits that come with rags, microfiber cloths, and all the chemicals you’ll need are a handy solution to getting that shine back on your ride.
If that’s not their style, go ahead and get them a car wash card for a local touchless car wash. They’ll appreciate it, and so will their Tesla.
We recommend this kit - it comes with all the basics and won’t break your wallet. You can add to it with a foam cannon and more tools as needed. You can buy it directly on Amazon.
Key Rings
A fantastic backup option.
Not a Tesla App
Tesla’s keycards are cool—nobody makes car keys this stylish. But what if you wanted something more convenient? You can also get a ring that will serve as an NFC key—it’ll act just like a keycard. Simply tap your knuckle on your car to get in, and then swipe your hand near the interior card reader to get going.
They’re waterproof, don’t require charging, and are a fantastic backup for when you leave your wallet and your phone in your car. Trust me, it’s worth it! Here’s a link to their site. We’ve also got a 5% Referral Code: FRIEND-QTS4D5R
Tesla Shop
A scale Cybertruck on some Cybertruck accessories!
Not a Tesla App
Of course, we saved this one for last. Tesla’s official shop has a lot of awesome stuff, from accessories for your vehicle to accessories for yourself.
If you’re aiming for some fantastic gifts, we highly recommend the scale models - they’re all really high quality and are fantastic display pieces. The author has a scale Cybertruck on their office desk.
Some of the links in this article may be a part of affiliate programs and/or offer you a discount. While they have no barring on what we decide to include in our gift guide, we may receive a small commission for items bought through some of these links, which goes toward supporting the site.
For the first time in a while, Tesla’s executives have started mentioning and hyping FSD V13 again. We previously reported on Elon Musk confirming V13 was around the corner, but this time more members of Tesla’s AI team have taken to X to talk about V13.
Starting a Fire…
Ashok Elluswamy started it all, and then Elon hopped in with a rocketship emoji.
Shortly after, other members of Tesla’s AI team started posting about V13 on their own accounts, and it really seems like it's starting to come together.
And that little fire has kept going, with more members of the team chiming in shortly thereafter. And there’s a lot more than that too. We’ve just captured a few of the reactions - and this is the first time we’ve seen so much positivity around an FSD release amongst so many Tesla employees.
With all the chatter around V13, it sounds as if it had or is about to have a limited employee release. We may even see it released to early-access testers with AI4 vehicles sometime next week. In fact, Ashok Elluswamy mentioned that engineers were even working on it Thanksgiving morning before taking time off to spend with their families.
Chuck Cook also recently caught a Cybertruck on his famous unprotected left turn near his house. The truck was likely testing a new version of FSD on the ADAS test vehicles before it was pushed out wider.
The @Cybertruck ADAS Operator is out validating a future version of FSD Supervised today. I haven't seen any other vehicle types out and about. Maybe we will be getting our new horn with a fresh version of FSD! @Tesla_AIpic.twitter.com/XgiT9u77jJ
Tesla’s usual modus operandi for rolling out updates is to its internal ADAS testers first - and when it passes their rigorous safety testing, it's off to a wider set of employees before being given to early access testers. If all testing continues to go well, Tesla then begins small deployments to other Tesla owners.
That said, we’re hoping to see FSD V13 launch widely in time for the holidays—after all, what’s better than a holiday road trip with a new version of FSD?
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