New Cybertruck video reveals updated to the user interface
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The Cybertruck is Elon Musk's new daily driver. Tesla's CEO said he would trade in his Model S for the stainless steel beast, and it appears he did so after taking a public drive over the weekend.
An Electric Appearance at the Formula 1 Race
Musk and his son surprised Formula 1 fans when they appeared at the United States Grand Prix in Austin, Texas. The event, situated close to Tesla's Gigafactory, became even more of an extravaganza when the Cybertruck was spotted at the Circuit of the Americas. It's hard to take any attention away from the F1 cars and drivers, but fans swarmed Musk and his Cybertruck.
It's worth noting that this isn't Musk's first rodeo with the Formula 1 world. Earlier this year, he engaged in insightful discussions on aerodynamics and battery technology during the Miami Grand Prix. He even floated the idea of a race merging electric vehicles and traditional F1 machines, suggesting a face-off between EVs and gas/hybrid F1 vehicles. While critics were quick to point out the existence of Formula E, Musk's vision indicates a profound interest in the melding of traditional racing and electric vehicle technologies.
Closer Look at the Cybertruck UI
We recently had a closer look at the Cybertruck's UI which revealed the Cybertruck will have its apps lined up vertically along the left side of the screen. However, one of yesterday's videos, shown below, shows that the passenger will also have access to its own set of app icons alongside the right side of the screen.
In the video, the passenger's app icons appear to mimic the driver's, although it's likely that the passenger will be able to customize their own apps in the dock. At the top right and bottom right corners of the screen there appear to be other icons, although it's too blurry to make out what they could be. The bottom right icon almost appears to resemble a profile icon, which could be Tesla's long awaited "passenger preferences" feature. Passenger presets would let the passenger have their own set of preferences such as seating presets, favorite apps, playlists and more.
It's worth noting that this isn't Musk's first rodeo with the Formula 1 world. Earlier this year, he engaged in insightful discussions on aerodynamics and battery technology during the Miami Grand Prix. He even floated the idea of a race merging electric vehicles and traditional F1 machines, suggesting a face-off between EVs and gas/hybrid F1 vehicles. While critics were quick to point out the existence of Formula E, Musk's vision indicates a profound interest in the melding of traditional racing and electric vehicle technologies.
In the photo, we can also see that Tesla is experimenting with or moving the repeater cameras to the top of the rear camera view in the app. The Cybertruck will have a front bumper camera that is expected to be available in the camera app as well.
Tesla conducted a bulletproof test on the Cybertruck; you read that right. Pictures and video made the rounds on social media, showing a Cybertruck marred by what appeared to be bullet holes. Still, upon closer inspection, they were dents caused by bullets.
Elon Musk didn't leave fans in suspense for long. He promptly confirmed that the Cybertruck had been shot at "Al Capone style" with a Tommy gun, adding that none of the bullets breached the passenger compartment. Despite initial skepticism stemming from the truck's glass-shattering incident during its unveiling in 2019, the recent test bolsters the Cybertruck's claim of being impenetrable.
Bed Racks Showcase more Customization
The Tesla Cybertruck is spotted with a roof/bed rack
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Adding to the list of Cybertruck features, roof/bed racks were spotted on the vehicle during recent sightings. These are the same that were seen during the truck's Baja run that was used to support a Starlink dish.
These racks add an element of utility and style to the already unique vehicle. Tesla has hinted at the possibility of several third-party accessories being available for the highly capable truck. The bed racks indicate the diverse accessory ecosystem accompanying the Cybertruck upon its official release.
As the delivery event looms, we await more details about this bold, bulletproof, stainless steel, "best product ever made," Cybertruck. The price may be helpful. With more than one million reservations, many people are waiting to see how much they will spend to get a Cybertruck. See you on November 30.
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According to a new report from Business Insider, Tesla is planning a week-long production pause for the Cybertruck and Model Y lines at Giga Texas. On the surface, the reason seems pretty straightforward: maintenance and line upgrades.
But Tesla has been infamous for never shutting down lines unless it's an absolute production necessity. Given that this is the third production pause in the last 12 months, this suggests that Tesla is planning something other than routine maintenance.
Official Story
The facts, as reported by BI, are fairly straightforward. Tesla will be shutting down the Model Y and Cybertruck lines from June 30th to July 4th. In a staff meeting at Giga Texas, Tesla stated that the pause would enable maintenance and upgrades to help ramp up production.
While this could seem odd for the recently updated Model Y and Cybertruck lines, it also makes sense as Tesla continuously makes production improvements, rather than waiting for model year updates.
There definitely feels like there’s more to this story than a simple pause, but the timing and context suggest this pause is far more significant.
The Affordable Model
The key to this shutdown is Tesla’s strategy for its more affordable model. Tesla has pivoted away from building Giga Mexico, and is instead planning to build both the Cybercab with its unboxed assembly process, as well as the next-gen affordable vehicle at Giga Texas.
For now, Tesla plans to build the affordable model based on existing production lines within Giga Texas, rather than build a standalone line. This is mostly because Tesla intends for the affordable model to have a high part familiarity with the Model 3 and Model Y.
The Model Y line, in particular, is the prime candidate for this retooling. It is Tesla's most refined high-volume production line, and the tooling and equipment on the line are perfectly suited to enable Tesla’s quick transition to producing the new model.
A week-long shutdown is not enough time for a complete overhaul, but it is the perfect window to begin preparatory work. This could include installing new mounting points for future robotics, rerouting utilities, or even running initial trials for new assembly processes in a portion of the line.
Timing is Everything
This theory makes even more sense in the context of recent events. The cheaper model was initially planned for the first half of 2025, but following reported delays, the timing seems right for Tesla to start incorporating changes to support the new vehicle. While Tesla initially planned for a cheaper model to be based on the Cybercab with its unboxed assembly, they decided to produce one based on the current assembly line to get to market sooner. This isn’t the cheaper, “$25k” vehicle we were all hoping for, but instead a more affordable version of the Model 3 or Model Y.
While the Cybertruck line is likely undergoing standard ramp-up tweaks, the shutdown of the Model Y line likely presents something more. While it could also include maintenance and incorporate updated tools, it may include changes required for the newer model.
More Than Maintenance
While the official reason reported by Business Insider seems fairly plausible, there’s always more under the surface when it comes to major decisions like this with Tesla. Using the planned maintenance window to quietly begin the process of retooling is the kind of move we expect from Tesla.
Just days before Tesla’s planned launch of the Robotaxi network in Austin, a group of local lawmakers has sent a letter to Tesla, urging them to delay the launch. Citing a new state law set to take effect on September 1st, the letter asks Tesla to pause its launch until it can formally comply with the new framework.
On the surface, this could sound like a significant roadblock. However, upon closer examination of the lawmaker’s concerns, the requirements of the new law, and the upcoming unified federal autonomy regulations, the request may be more political theater than a genuine obstacle.
In fact, Tesla’s Robotaxi service appears to already meet the spirit—and likely the letter—of the upcoming regulatory framework.
The Letter and the Law
The letter, penned by State Senator Sarah Eckhardt, formally requests that Tesla postpone its planned Robotaxi launch this month until the new and more comprehensive autonomous vehicle law is in effect on September 1st. It's important to note that this isn’t a legal injunction; it doesn’t have any power, and Tesla is under no obligation to comply or even reply. The letter is a formal request, a piece of political pressure intended to encourage proactive compliance.
So, what does this new law demand? It has five key requirements for autonomous vehicle operation in Texas.
Barely A Speed Bump
A detailed look reveals that Tesla's existing technology and practices likely already meet every single requirement of the upcoming regulations, so let’s dive in.
1) Capable of operating in compliance with state traffic laws.
This is the fundamental purpose of FSD - complying with traffic laws to get a passenger from Point A to Point B. The system is designed to adhere to traffic laws, and in fact, sometimes sticks to them too closely (like the NHTSA stop).
2) Equipped with a recording device.
This is probably the easiest requirement when you look at a Tesla. Every vehicle is a rolling 360-degree security suite, equipped with multiple cameras and internal sensors that document every action taken by the vehicle.
3) Compliant with federal law, including federal motor vehicle safety standards.
Tesla is currently deploying Model Ys for its Robotaxi network pilot, which means that they are fully compliant with FMVSS standards. This will likely change once Cybercab begins to deploy, but the NHTSA is working on accelerating federal regulation for vehicles without driver controls in the near future.
4) Capable of achieving a “minimal risk condition” if the automated system is rendered inoperable.
When the system detects a critical fault or issue it cannot handle, it must slow down, activate hazard lights, and pull over to a safe location at the side of the road. That is very doable, and likely within Tesla’s calculations for how they will handle system aborts and other incidents. In fact, the Model Y robotaxis with a safety driver in the passenger seat have been spotted with buttons on the screen that say “Emergency Stop” and “Pullover.”
5) Registered, Titled, and Insured under Texas law.
This is a bog-standard requirement. Every vehicle operator must meet those three requirements, and as Tesla’s Model Ys currently driving the roads in Austin are sporting manufacturer plates, this is likely already done.
While these Texas lawmakers are asking for a pause, the NHTSA is actively working to make it easier for companies like Tesla to deploy autonomous vehicles. This state-level scrutiny, while perhaps well-intentioned, is a clear example of the challenge of deploying a national network under fragmented regulations.
Ultimately, this letter is unlikely to be anything more than a political statement. It will be logged and acknowledged, but it presents no new technical or legal hurdles for Tesla to clear before its planned launch. For an autonomous future, this isn't even a bump in the road.
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