Tesla is far from done in the EV market. With new brands entering the market with electric engines, Elon Musk’s company still stands strong as one of the most reliable manufacturers today. On the other hand, this doesn’t exclude other companies like BYD or Geely from betting on themselves and defying Tesla’s dominance – and this is paying off well in South America and Europe. Meanwhile, the American automaker has just launched a new car in China that might never arrive in the United States due to the companies’ goals in the country.
The EV market: China, America, and Europe are the leaders
EVs are now at the top of the market, with buyers looking to give away, sell, or trade their combustion cars in exchange for a greener engine. The idea of helping the environment is not the first priority for many drivers, but the power they get in exchange for leaving the car for a couple of minutes in the charge – some take more time, while others just need a couple of minutes to charge up to 80%.
Now, as a couple of companies in the industry are sharing their plans with each other, and BYD is actively selling their car batteries to other companies, like they do to Tesla, the peak of technological development could come earlier than the combustion engines. Meanwhile, the brands are set to continue competing for a better market position, and Elon Musk has just launched a new model in China to compete against locals.
New Tesla coming out: But it’s exclusive to China
In January, Tesla rolled out an upgrade for the Model Y, the world’s best-selling electric SUV. Back then, only two versions were available: the single-motor RWD and dual-motor AWD, with the Performance variant still missing. Now, Europe finally gets Tesla’s fastest Model Y, packed with upgrades – some borrowed from the recently launched 6-seater Model Y L.
On the outside, it gets a sharper front bumper and a carbon-free rear lip spoiler. The new Model YL features a new Ludicrous badge on the back, first seen on the 2024 Model 3 Performance. The old Uber turbine wheels have been swapped for 21-inch rims that look a lot like the Arachnid wheels from the trimotor Model S Plaid. Moving forward also in Europe, Musk’s company could take advantage of the BYD fabric opening in Europe to get more batteries for the local market.
Elon Musk’s revealed: The car might never go to the U.S.
Elon Musk says the new six-seat Model YL, launched in the final week of August in China, might never come to the US. He keeps selling the self-driving technology as the future of the company, telling investors that the company’s success depends on leading in autonomous driving.
Musk told a fan on X that production of this Model Y variant in the US won’t start until the end of next year, and it’s possible it never will – self-driving could make a six-seater unnecessary. Still, building three-row EVs that actually make money is tricky. New policies under the Trump administration could push prices up, which is making automakers focus on smaller, more affordable models.
New cars are not the focus in America: Autonomy is the new goal
In the U.S., Tesla is increasingly focused on its robotaxi plans. A small robotaxi service kicked off in Austin back in June, and the company aims to reach half of the U.S. population by year’s end – even thought the launching was not a success. In 2024, Musk told investors that producing traditional cars might not make sense in a self-driving future. Next year, the EV brand has plans to start making the Cybercab, a two-seater robotaxi designed without a steering wheel or pedals.
