Tesla is rolling out a thoughtful and much-needed update to its in-vehicle Supercharger UI. The update is designed to provide drivers with details about Superchargers and their locations.
The update will add new icons and contextual messages to clarify Supercharger access requirements or restrictions, such as paid parking. There’s nothing worse than navigating to a Supercharger only to find out it's only for customers, requires paid parking, or some other service.
The new details will appear in various locations, including the Supercharger list, Supercharger module, and above the navigation directions when navigating to a Supercharger.
The new Supercharger icons will indicate the following requirements:
Valet-only Parking
Pay to Park
Access Codes
Parking Floor (the floor the Supercharge is on in a parking garage)
These icons are initially displayed when you’re searching for a Supercharger in the list of Superchargers. Additionally, when navigating to a site that includes any of the above, your vehicle will now display specific alerts for access requirements.
Access Codes and Parking Floor information will be provided above the navigation card when you reach the destination.
Solving Common Frustrations
Not a Tesla App
While these may seem like minor tweaks, they are a direct solution to some long-standing and common frustrations for many Tesla owners. Many drivers have likely experienced the scenario of following navigation to an unfamiliar urban Supercharger, only to arrive and discover it’s buried deep within a paid parking garage, with no advance warning of the fees or specific floor location.
This update provides all the critical information upfront so that drivers can make informed decisions on where they would like to charge. No more surprise parking fees, no circling a multi-level garage at 3% battery, desperately searching for the red and white Supercharger signs, and no more getting stuck searching for an access code to charge.
Little Details Matter
These Supercharger updates are the definition of quality-of-life improvements. Little details that make a big difference in usability.
As the Supercharger network continues its massive expansion into more complex and densely populated urban centers, providing this kind of granular, logistical data becomes increasingly important.
Release Date
While Tesla hasn’t announced when these features will be added, they’ll likely be included in the next major Tesla software update, presumably update 2025.24 or 2025.26.
The Tesla app was recently updated to v4.46.5 and added the ability to restrict location visibility for other drivers of the vehicle. Although the app update didn’t include these Supercharger updates, we expect these new Supercharger details to also be added to the Tesla app soon.
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While the most exciting parts of the 2024 Impact Report were focused on Tesla’s future roadmap, a deeper dive into the data reveals a lot about what’s currently happening. The report is packed with key metrics on vehicle safety, ownership costs, and the explosive growth of Tesla Energy.
These aren’t just separate points - they all come together as part of a self-reinforcing and self-feeding engine. The data shows just how all these elements work together to help scale Tesla’s various businesses, while also advancing each one. Let’s take a look.
Pillar 1: Safety
The report makes some of Tesla’s boldest safety claims to date, but they’re all backed by data from the global fleet. This fleet data is one of Tesla's biggest advantages, allowing it to prove just how much safer its vehicles are.
As of 2024, vehicles using Autopilot technology were involved in one accident for every 6.77 million miles driven. This represents a safety record nearly 10 times better than the U.S. national average of one accident per 0.70 million miles.
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Alongside that, the entire Tesla lineup, including the Cybertruck, now boasts 5-star safety ratings from the NHTSA. Tesla vehicles are also 8 times less likely to be involved in a fire than the average vehicle in the United States, which completely blows the “EVs are a fire risk” claim out of the water.
In general, Tesla vehicles are far safer than their legacy automotive cousins, especially with new features being added in the name of safety, like the 4D cabin radar, customizable parental controls, and extreme body strength.
In fact, Tesla vehicles are so safe, you might be denied a driver’s license because your vehicle is too safe. That’s something that only Tesla could pull off.
But why does this matter? Safety is safety, right? In fact, the data that proves just how safe Tesla is helps build both consumer and regulatory trust, which in turn facilitates initiatives like the recent Robotaxi pilot. A safer car is a better car, which helps drive demand and fuel the growth of the fleet. That also means more data, which can be used to make the fleet safer.
Pillar 2: Total Cost of Ownership
The report also makes a compelling case that this best-in-class vehicle safety is now as affordable as mass-market alternatives when measured over the vehicle's total life cycle.
That is known as the Total Cost of Ownership, or TCO. The Model Y RWD has a TCO of $0.74/mi. In comparison to popular ICE competitors, like the Honda CR-V ($0.74/mi) and the Toyota RAV4 ($0.76/mi), the Model Y is a stellar competitor. When you look at comparable luxury SUVs like the BMW X3 ($1.19/mi), this number looks even better.
While the initial buy-in cost of the Model Y is higher, the TCO lowers due to many reasons. The lower cost of electricity to power the Model Y, the lower cost of ongoing maintenance, and the likelihood that the vehicle will stay on the road for longer all matter here.
EVs, and Teslas in particular, have lower maintenance costs compared to other vehicles. That all adds up over the years when the only things you need to replace are washer fluid, wipers, and tires, versus a whole litany of consumable parts and oils in an ICE vehicle.
Tesla needs to shatter the perception that EVs are prohibitively expensive by focusing on the total cost, which includes fuel, maintenance, insurance, and depreciation. This affordability expands Tesla's addressable market far beyond the premium segment, which is essential for growing the fleet. Combining that low TCO with safety is the key to mass-market adoption, which also helps to drive safety and data collection for FSD.
Pillar 3: Tesla Energy
The quiet winner of Tesla’s recent Earnings Calls and this Impact Report has been Tesla Energy, which supports the fleet, while also being a massive, rapidly growing business in its own right.
There are three key parts to this - the first is Megapack. Tesla has scaled Megapack deployments by 110% year-over-year since 2023, making an enormous impact on grid sustainability through the provision of energy storage and grid-forming services.
Alongside Tesla’s Autobidder and Opticaster software, which help make better use of renewables on the grid, Megapack can effectively double grid capacity when used correctly.
Alongside Megapack, Powerwalls are also making an impact. Over 100,000 Powerwall units are enrolled in Virtual Power Plant programs across the globe, which help manage and reduce grid fluctuations, while allowing customers to benefit from the ability to buy and sell energy. For many, it can yield a tidy profit per Powerwall, sometimes around $50-$100 USD per month.
Tesla has also achieved scale in energy. Giga Shanghai came online in Q1 2025, which brings Tesla Energy’s total global capacity to 80 GWh. With demand stretching well past 250 GWh, there’s plenty of room for Tesla to continue expanding their stationary energy storage business.
That is exceptionally important, as Tesla’s auto business has faced challenges in the last few quarters. Tesla Energy will be essential in picking up the slack from the loss in vehicle sales, as well as in powering the renewable energy that will ensure the fleet is more sustainable than ever.
Wrapping Up
Putting it all together, the 2024 Impact Report tells us that Tesla has a plan. Superior safety creates a desirable product. A low cost of ownership makes that product accessible to everyone. A booming energy business powers the whole ecosystem sustainably and profitably. Each pillar reinforces the others, creating a cycle that is accelerating Tesla's growth and its mission.
Following the recent departure of longtime deputy Omead Afshar, Elon Musk has stepped up to personally oversee Tesla’s sales operations in North America and Europe, according to a new report from Bloomberg, which cites people familiar with the matter.
This is a big shake-up that places Elon directly in charge of fixing Tesla’s sales slump in two key markets. The move has come as Tesla reported nearly on-the-ball deliveries for Q2 2025, hitting 384k deliveries, against a consensus street estimate of 385k deliveries.
New Leadership Structure
According to the report, Afshar’s former responsibilities are being divided between Elon and Senior VP Tom Zhu. Elon will now directly oversee the sales organizations in the US and Europe. As part of this change, Troy Jones, Tesla’s VP of North America Sales, will now report to Elon.
Tom Zhu, who is based in China, will continue to manage sales in Asia while also taking on the critical new responsibility of overseeing global manufacturing operations. Leadership of Tesla’s factories in Fremont, California, and Texas will now report to Tom. Tesla Energy’s factories will still report to Michael Snyder, VP of Energy and Charging.
For now, we’re unsure whether this is a temporary management structure, if the reporting lines will shift, or if Tesla will either hire or promote a new Senior VP of Sales to cover the duties.
Tackling the Sales Slump
The restructuring is a response to the recent downturn in sales. Analysts estimated that Tesla would deliver approximately 385k vehicles, which they essentially managed to achieve. However, deliveries fell short of production numbers, with Tesla delivering just 373k of the 410k vehicles produced.
This situation is particularly challenging in Central Europe. Europe has been noted as Tesla’s weakest market, according to Elon. Interestingly, Elon previously stated in several interviews over the last few months that there was no demand issue, but it now seems that there have been some issues with growing sales.
With Tesla’s new vehicle registrations across Europe having plunged 37% since the start of this year, and the rollout of the new affordable model, as well as more affordable versions of the Model 3 and Model Y seemingly delayed, there is a lot to do. Some analysts are projecting a second consecutive annual decline in Tesla’s global car sales for 2025.
The Rise of Tom Zhu
A key note in this reshuffle is the return of Tom Zhu to a top global operations role. Tom had previously led the construction and ramp-up of Giga Shanghai and was then promoted to Senior VP of Automotive Operations in 2023. Last year, he was sent back to China to focus on tackling regulatory hurdles with the launch of FSD in China.
His return to overseeing global manufacturing, even while staying in China, is a significant vote of confidence in his abilities. It also comes as Chinese authorities have begun drafting new autonomy guidelines to clear a path for the broader rollout of both Supervised and potentially Unsupervised FSD.
Wrap Up
This major restructuring shows that Elon is once again focused on Tesla and plans to personally tackle the company’s biggest issues. This will require a careful hand, as Elon’s forays into politics have caused self-admitted brand damage. If anyone can turn this around and have the Model Y return as the Best-Selling Vehicle of 2026, having just missed out by a few thousand vehicles to the Toyota RAV4, it is Elon.
Alongside him, Tom Zhu will be responsible for streamlining global manufacturing and ensuring that Tesla is ready to launch their new affordable variants in the near future, which should also make a considerable dent in sales.
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