Following the infamous “durability test” by Zack from JerryRigEverything, where he subjected a Cybertruck to extreme vertical loads that don’t actually occur in reality, Zack has now gotten his Cybertruck repaired.
While the original test created a stir, the real story is the follow-up from Tesla, which helps highlight Tesla’s approach to vehicle repair while also providing some insight into the work that went into engineering Cybertruck.
The whole incident has also caused Tesla to update its owner’s manual to show the maximum weight at different distances from the hitch receiver.
Tesla added more information to the Cybertruck's owner's manual in update 2025.14
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Gigacast Sectioning
The repair process was documented in a new video from JerryRigEverything (below), and was centered on a unique procedure that Tesla calls gigacast sectioning. This new method allows Tesla Service to field-replace only the damaged portions of the vehicle’s large rear casting rather than the entire component. This helps save time and cost while maintaining the same level of durability and structural strength.
Wes Morrill, Tesla’s lead engineer for the Cybertruck, commented on the process on X, framing it as an intentional outcome of the design process.
“Zack's repair was a perfect demonstration of the work the team put in hand in hand with service to consider repairability in the design. Crashes happen and lowering the cost of repair lowers the cost of insurance, and improves overall cost of ownership. Couple that with low maintenance costs and low $/mi and it's really hard to make an argument to buy anything else.”
The Cybertruck was not only designed to be durable but also easily repaired.
Tesla’s Repair Ethos
Beyond this specific repair, Wes also emphasized the collaborative nature of the repair experience and Tesla’s philosophy on service transparency.
“I'm also really happy to see the highlight on documentation and transparency of Tesla service. There is so much information both on Tesla's website as well as on the vehicle's UI to empower customers to learn about their vehicle and even repair it themselves if they want.”
This aligns with Tesla's principles, which have included opening patents to accelerate EV adoption, and now extends to trailblazing the right-to-repair movement. Alongside that, the service engineering team is also working on expanding the right-to-repair movement by building comprehensive documentation and opening up Tesla’s tools to make repairs and technology more approachable.
Wes also commented on the original test - to educate on the engineering principles at play in Zack’s test, and to clarify a common point of confusion between tongue weight and overall tow capacity.
“Zack's test demonstrated ~10x factory of safety on rated tongue weight. This should inspire confidence to use the vehicle up to its maximum rating,” says Wes.
Tongue Weight vs Tow Weight
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Wes also pointed out that this thread from Bearded Tesla on X provides an excellent analysis of the difference between tow weights and tongue capacities.
While the spectacle of the initial “durability test” garnered widespread media attention, the subsequent repair and dialogue surrounding it reveal far more information about the Cybertruck's durability and repairability.
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Tesla has begun rolling out some map updates, including a brand new geographic area. These updates include two regional map updates, with one confirming Tesla’s entry into India and the other improving the maps in Europe.
Indian Launch
The biggest addition is a new map region for India, which was discovered by Tesla hacker Greentheonly. This move, while seemingly minor, is a prerequisite for Tesla launching vehicles in the region.
For years, discussions about Tesla’s arrival in India have focused on manufacturing plans, import duties, and retail store plans. However, the vehicles themselves must all be technically ready for the region.
This is more than just data entry; it involves integrating local points of interest, Tesla’s internal routing logic, and displaying regional road information correctly. In past market entries, Tesla has activated the necessary navigation regions in its software shortly before officially launching in a country, and just this morning, news broke that Tesla will open its first showroom in India.
On July 15th, Tesla will open its first showroom in Mumbai, marking its entry into the Indian market.
For those who have imported Tesla vehicles in advance of the official market entry, this means they will finally receive official maps and navigation support, and will likely begin receiving official software updates in the near future.
European Maps Update
In addition to the India map update, Tesla has also starting roll out a map update for Europe. The new map update for Europe is version EU-2025.14, bringing users up from EU-2025.2.
You’ll need to connect to WiFi in order to download map updates and similar to software updats, Tesla will roll them out gradually. If you want to learn more about map updates, be sure to check out our Tesla maps and navigaiton guide.
This map update will likely be fairly minor, but it should include newer roads, speed limits and more details. It could also include additional information that’s required for launching FSD in Europe.
While map updates aren’t as exciting as FSD updates or major software updates like the upcoming Grok AI update, they’re especially useful for Tesla owners who travel on new roads that may not be in Tesla’s current map version.
Tesla has officially scheduled its 2025 Annual Shareholder Meeting for Thursday, November 6, 2025. The date was confirmed in an 8-K form filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission this week. Shareholders can expect to begin receiving official notifications by email or letter this week.
While we don’t know what, if anything, is up for vote this year, shareholders should ensure their investment accounts are linked up at ir.tesla.com if they plan to vote on upcoming proposals.
While these meetings cover standard corporate governance, they’ve also become a key venue for Tesla to share updates on its future projects.
Let’s take a look back at Tesla’s 2024 shareholder meeting to see what we can expect for 2025.
A Look Back: Shareholder Meeting 2024
The 2024 Shareholder Meeting was packed with news and updates. Some of the highlights included details on Cybercab, the first mentions of AI5, and the move of Tesla’s incorporation to Texas following the re-ratification of Elon’s 2018 compensation plan.
The 2025 meeting may provide progress updates on several key items.
First up is the final status of Elon Musk’s pay package. While it was successfully re-ratified following the 2024 Meeting, the Court of Delaware ruled against it, creating a legal situation that resulted in Tesla amending its letter of incorporation and moving to Texas.
While the messy legal situation hasn’t been completely sorted out yet, there’s a chance we could see more on this at the 2025 Meeting.
Next up is a status update on the Robotaxi Network pilot, as well as progress for Tesla’s Cybercab program. We’ve seen early prototype castings for the Cybercab outside Giga Texas, and they recently provided an updated timeline in their 2024 Impact Report. This is going to be the next big step for Tesla’s growth as it starts its Robotaxi service business.
The Tesla Semi and Tesla Energy are also two massive programs undergoing upgrades and revamps. The volume production of Semi is supposed to begin by the end of 2025, and Tesla is constantly working on expanding Tesla Energy’s manufacturing footprint to meet the never-ending demand for Megapack and Powerwall. We’re anticipating some major updates here, along with some updates on Tesla’s next-generation battery tech, including the Gen 3 Cybercell that includes dry-cathode manufacturing.
There’s a lot to be excited about - and November 6th is the day we may find out a lot about Tesla’s future products. The meeting will be a big event that we’ll cover in detail, so don’t worry, even if you miss it. We’ll have a full set of recap notes and longer in-depth articles following the event, as usual.