The electric hypercar realm is witnessing the beginning of an unbelievable hypercar rivalry. Up for grabs is the fastest production car in the world, which is also electric. In one corner is the reigning, defending hypercar champion, Rimac’s Nevera. In the other corner is Tesla's forthcoming Roadster SpaceX Edition.
The Battle for Hypercar Hegemony
Elon Musk's late-night revelations earlier this week have promised a next-generation Roadster that defies conventional automotive norms, particularly with hints at rocket thruster-enhanced performance that will launch the car from 0-60 mph in less than one second. His posts caught much attention, including those of Mate Rimac, CEO of Rimac Automobili.
..it is possible with thrusters. We did the simulation… - Mate Rimac
Rimac is a pivotal figure in the hypercar world, renowned for blending high performance with electric propulsion. When asked about Tesla's audacious acceleration claim, he weighed in with a blend of technical insight and real-world pragmatism. His perspective is not just academic; it's grounded in the tangible realities of engineering and physics that govern high-performance vehicles.
Fast but Heavy, Light but “Slow”
Rimac acknowledged the feasibility of Tesla's target, citing thrusters as a viable means to surpass traditional acceleration benchmarks. However, he underscored the inherent trade-offs, noting the considerable weight of the necessary equipment—tanks, compressors, valves, and nozzles—that, while contributing to initial acceleration, become dead weight after that.
Rimac also points out another flaw: “Plus, the car has to be super light as otherwise, you can’t create a lot of excess downforce with the fans as the tires would be overloaded very fast with any kind of car with “normal supercar” weight, especially electric. And then again, you are carrying the weight with you when you are not doing 0-100. So thrusters are really the only way to go. But it brings a lot of downsides as well.”
Nevera, costing approximately $2.5 million, dominates the scene with more than 1,800 horsepower and its record-shattering performances, including an extraordinary 0-60 mph time of 1.74 seconds and a 0-400 km/h sprint in 21.31 seconds. When Nivera posted these incredible numbers, Musk was asked if the Roadster could beat the time and responded: lol.
Rimac's acknowledgment of the technical hurdles associated with Tesla's approach does not detract from the potential impact of the Roadster. Instead, it adds a layer of credibility to the discussion, grounding it in the realities of automotive engineering. It's a reminder that the quest for unparalleled acceleration involves balancing the thrill of speed with the practicalities of vehicle design and functionality.
This dialogue between Tesla and Rimac marks a significant moment in the EV industry. Tesla's pursuit of the ultimate performance EV with the new Roadster places it in direct conversation with Rimac. This company has consistently pushed the boundaries of what electric hypercars can achieve. The interaction underscores a broader theme in the automotive world: the relentless pursuit of innovation, where companies like Tesla and Rimac are not just competing but also learning from each other.
With both companies poised to innovate further and redefine what's possible, the rivalry between Tesla's Roadster and Rimac's Nevera is more than a contest of speed—it's a testament to the relentless pursuit of innovation that drives the electric vehicle industry forward. The Roadster is to start deliveries in 2025. Odds are the first place it will be is on the track beside a Nevera!
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After a post on X, Tesla has confirmed that it recently exported its 1 millionth car from Giga Shanghai. That’s a massive number of vehicles from a factory that only opened in December 2019.
Since Q3 2021, Giga Shanghai has been responsible for producing over 50% of global EV production – with the single exception of Q2 2022 – where production fell to about 40% while the factory was retooling. That’s a jaw-dropping figure for a single factory.
1 Million Exports
Giga Shanghai produces Teslas for practically the entire world, including the European, Australian, Chinese, and other Southeast Asian markets. For now, it also produces cars for Canada; however, an upcoming tariff could change this.
Giga Shanghai also celebrated the shipping of 100,000 vehicles to Australia with the 1 million vehicles exported mark. While the majority of vehicles end up in Europe, Australia and Southeast Asia are still massive markets for Tesla.
Going forward, Giga Shanghai, with its continued expansions, will be at or above 1 million vehicles produced per year. A good chunk of these vehicles stay within China, while the rest are exported. Tesla sells on average 40 to 80,000 cars per month in China, depending on the season, with an average of 90,000 cars produced per month in 2024 so far.
Automated Production
This is all thanks to Giga Shanghai’s 95% automated production line. Giga Shanghai is likely one of the most automated and advanced factories in the world, a testament to Tesla’s manufacturing and engineering expertise. Giga Shanghai produces one vehicle every 40 seconds.
We’re looking forward to seeing how Tesla’s expansions and factory innovations continue in the coming months and years.
Giga Shanghai operates a 95% automated production line, enabling a cycle time of less than 40 seconds! From taking 2.5 years for the first million cars to be produced, the second million was done in just 12 months 🚘🪄 pic.twitter.com/IF1w27AFPr
Tesla’s last app update, version 4.37.1, introduces support for critical alerts on the iPhone. These alerts are designed for emergency situations and will override standard notification settings, including the mute switch, Focus modes, and Do Not Disturb. This ensures that owners are notified when immediate action is required, even if their phone is set to silent.
How to Enable Critical Alerts
Activate Dog Mode: Open the Tesla app and turn on Dog Mode.
Main App Screen: After activating Dog Mode, go back to the main section of the app.
Enable Critical Alerts: A new option called Critical Alerts will appear under Live Camera and the quick action icons (Tip: You can add up to 5 quick actions). It’ll state, “Grant permissions to receive critical notifications.” Tap it, and you’ll see a system dialog asking for permission to allow critical alerts for the Tesla app.
Confirm Permission: Choose to allow the Tesla app to send critical notifications, which will grant the app special privileges for sending urgent alerts.
This new feature is likely intended for situations where Dog Mode needs to be turned off unexpectedly. For example, if the vehicle’s battery drops below 20% or if the temperature inside the cabin rises or falls drastically outside of your set temperature, the Tesla app is expected to send a critical alert to the owner, ensuring they are informed right away.
What Are Critical Alerts?
Critical Alerts are a type of iOS notification available only to approved apps, which must meet specific criteria set by Apple. These alerts are designed to be used in emergencies and bypass all standard notification restrictions. This means that regardless of whether your phone is silenced or in Do Not Disturb mode, the alert will play a sound and appear prominently.
By adding support for Critical Alerts, Tesla is prioritizing the safety of pets who may be left inside the vehicle with the expectation that Dog Mode will keep conditions safe. This change makes the app more reliable for alerting owners when immediate attention is needed, ensuring they are always kept informed—even when their phone’s settings would typically prevent other notifications from coming through.
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