Checkout The Telsa Cybertruck Car Which Was Inspired By James Bond Movie - PHOTOS

The CEO of Telsa, Elon Musk has tweeted that the Cybertruck design was partly influenced by the Lotus Esprit sportscar that doubled as a submarine in the 1970s James Bond film "The Spy" who loved me. The result is what looks like a low-poly blade runner fantasy.

The battery-powered pickup seats six inside a nearly impenetrable exoskeleton. Tesla says every component is designed for superior strength and endurance, from the ultra-hard 30x cold-rolled stainless steel to the Tesla armour glass. This didn’t stop the windows from shattering during a failed resistance test during the launch.

Tesla plans to offer three variants of the Cybertruck with the cheapest version starting at $39,000. It will feature a single motor and rear-wheel drive, with have a towing capacity of 7,500 pounds and more than 250 miles of range. The middle version will be a dual-motor all-wheel drive, have a towing capacity of more than 10,000 pounds and be able to travel more than 300 miles on a single charge, priced at $49,900.

Finally, a third version boasts three electric motors and all-wheel, a towing capacity of 14,000 pounds and a battery range of more than 500 miles. This version, known as ‘tri-motor’ is priced at $69,900 and can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in less than 6.5 seconds. Tesla says production is expected to begin in late 2021.

Hyundai Unveils Hydrogen-Powered Class 8 Heavy Duty Truck, A Rival For Telsa

Hyundai releases its latest concept of a heavy-duty truck, Hyundai HDC-6 Neptune Class 8 Heavy Duty Truck. It looks like Tesla semi-truck will be having a worthy competitor by the way.

Hyundai HDC-6 Neptune concept is a hydrogen-only concept for Hyundai Motor Company’s commercial vehicles, it’s a vision for the year of 2030 where there would be a wide-spread deployment of hydrogen-powered fuel cell technology. This auto manufacturer has done all necessary processes and experience to develop high-quality vehicles that support its FCEV 2030 vision for a hydrogen ecosystem. Fuel cells are a perfect solution for commercial vehicles, including heavy-duty trucks and long driving distances due to its higher drive range, less refuelling time, and ultimately, lower costs.

Futuristic Hyundai HDC-6 Neptune Class 8 Heavy Duty Truck demonstrates Hyundai’s vision in design, in-cab technology, and propulsion system. It’s a futuristic concept that moves forward to a decarbonized society and advancement of zero-emission vehicles.

Besides releasing HDC-6 Neptune, Hyundai also releases HT Nitro ThermoTech, it’s a refrigerated trailer using a cryogenic nitrogen refrigeration technology system. This concept has been developed in collaboration with Air Liquide, it would change the way Hyundai provides refrigerated transportation. This concept trailer footprint is claimed to be up to 90% less than a traditional unit.

Tesla Gigafactory 3 Building In Shanghai Looks Almost Complete - Photos

A new visual has emerged from Tesla Giga factory in Shanghai. According to the drone video update of Tesla’s Gigafactory 3 construction site shows that the main building is almost complete as Tesla rushes to start production in China.

Tesla waited a long time to make its Chinese factory deal happened in order to be able to own the entire plant, which had until recently been impossible due to the country’s protectionism laws.

They moved extremely fast.

About 7 months ago, Tesla announced a deal with the Shanghai government to build a wholly owned local factory and only about 5 months ago, they secured the 210-acres of land for Gigafactory 3 in China necessary.

They officially broke ground in January and plan to be done with the building by this summer.

Considering the size of the building, it seemed almost impossible, but a new drone video update shows that the building is almost complete (from Jason Yang):

Only a few weeks ago, it was mainly a steel structure, but Tesla’s contractors have quickly completed most of the roof and the walls of the factory.

One thing that is almost inevitable considering the speed of Gigafactory 3’s construction is the completion of the Phase 1 buildout, which includes a massive general assembly building for the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y. Shanghai official Chen Mingbo, who currently serves as the head of the city’s economic and information technology commission, announced during the annual parliamentary meeting back in March that the initial buildout of Gigafactory 3 should be done in May. That target date falls somewhere within the next couple of weeks.

If China’s workforce meets its target deadline for the completion of Gigafactory 3’s initial construction, it could accelerate the timeline for the electric car maker’s Model 3 trial production. During the facility’s groundbreaking event in January, Elon Musk stated that the first Model 3 could roll out of Gigafactory 3 by the end of the year. If China’s workforce completes the facility’s initial buildout this month, Model 3 trial production could start as early as September.

See photos of the facility below...

Watch the video here

Tesla investigates after car appears to explode in China

Tesla is investigating after one of its vehicles appeared to explode in China.

A short video of surveillance footage posted on Chinese social media site Weibo (WB) showed white smoke emerging from what looks like a white Tesla car parked at a lot in Shanghai. After a few seconds, the electric vehicle bursts into flames and the clip ends soon afterward.

The video, which was filmed just after 8:15 pm local time on April 21, appears to show a Tesla Model S sedan. It was posted on Chinese social media a couple of hours later and has since been shared widely.

Tesla (TSLA) would not confirm any of the details, other than to say it is investigating the incident alongside Chinese authorities.

"We immediately sent a team on-site and we're supporting local authorities to establish the facts. From what we know now, no one was harmed," a Tesla spokesperson told CNN Business on Monday.

The clip attracted a mix of derision and outrage on Weibo. "Us car owners demand an explanation," wrote user Miao Hongyang. "Jeopardizing our safety in a moment's instant and the fact it ignited so quickly is something we will not tolerate."

Another Weibo user registered under the name Your Dad, added: "One thing I've learned from this incident: from now on, don't ever park next to a Tesla."

This isn't the first time one of Tesla's cars has appeared to burst into flames, but previous incidents often involved moving vehicles or vehicles that had crashed.
"It seems strange that the battery, not charging, would combust on its own," said Tu Le, founder of consultant firm Sino Auto Insights.

Tesla has previously said that gasoline-powered cars are 10 times more likely to catch fire than those powered by electric batteries.

Watch the video below...

Good or bad, negative or positive I will post anything about Tesla or EVs in China. This happened today in Shanghai, China 🇨🇳 1st generation Tesla Model S caught Fire 🔥 underground car park.#Tesla #TeslaChina #ModelS #Fire #China #Shanghai #特斯拉 #中国 $TSLA pic.twitter.com/HOwMcvulV1

— Jay in Shanghai (@ShanghaiJayin) April 21, 2019

All Tesla Models Get New Dog and Sentry Modes to Keep Pets Cool and Car Protected

•  New Dog Mode allows drivers to keep their pets safe in a climate-controlled cabin while they are left in the Tesla—and displays a large notice to passersby that the animals are safe.
•  New Sentry Mode is a new smart car-alarm system that utilizes the Tesla's exterior cameras to detect potential threats.
•  Both new features will be delivered to owners via an over-the-air update, with owners of the Model 3 getting it first.

Kudos go out to Tesla today for spending the time to engineer a feature into its lineup of electric cars that could save our furry friends: Dog Mode. The feature allows drivers to keep the cabins of their cars climate controlled to the temperature of their choosing so their pets will remain warm or cool while they run errands.

It also displays a message on the car's large infotainment display to explain to passersby that the car is climate controlled, the owner is nearby, and the pets are safe and comfortable. Tesla released this short video starring two handsome German shepherds to announce the new feature:

The feature is joined today by the announcement of a new Sentry Mode that is intended to reduce theft or damage to the car when it's parked. This feature utilizes the many cameras that dot the exterior of Tesla models to watch for potential threats. Depending on the severity of the threat, the feature can display a warning message on the infotainment display, blast the car's stereo system, alert the owner via the Tesla smartphone app, or activate the car's alarm.

Both of these new features will be rolled out to current owners via an over-the-air software update, with Model 3 vehicles getting it first, then owners of Model S cars and Model X crossovers that were built after August 2017. They will be part of the standard software package for newly purchased Model S, Model X, and Model 3 Teslas.

Watch the video below...

End Of The Road? Apple Lays Off 200+ People From Project Titan

For over four years, Apple has been working on an electric self-driving vehicle, nicknamed Project Titan. The project, which first began ramping up in late 2014 and early 2015, has gone through a number of supposed shifts and changes, including various pivots and reboots. Now, Apple has confirmed that its cut 200 employees from the Titan workforce, some of which were reassigned to other projects at the company.

Apple appears to have effectively canceled its autonomous-car development after firing 200 employees assigned to its Project Titan, the team that was supposed to beat Waymo and other tech suppliers in the race to self-driving software.

The news comes from an Apple statement to CNBC on Thursday acknowledging the layoffs. While the Titan group may still exist, Apple said it has shifted people "to projects in other parts of the company." When it created Titan in 2015, there were reportedly 600 people on staff and plans to triple that number. Now, in a careful statement that omitted any reference to the automotive industry or the buzzword "mobility," the company said that it is "working on autonomous systems and associated technologies." The self-driving Apple Car that many predicted, including an Apple-branded electric car with a steering wheel, isn't likely to emerge from encrypted storage.

Cupertino's experts will no doubt focus on artificial intelligence and machine learning, but the payoff for production-ready software for cars a decade or more away may have been too long for CEO Tim Cook, who for the first time in more than a decade had to cut the company's quarterly revenue estimates earlier this month. Apple's iPhone sales have been sluggish, particularly in China where a raging court battle between the company and chipset manufacturer Qualcomm have blocked sales in the country. Even though Apple is rich beyond belief, the company still needs to boost revenue quickly for public shareholders.

News that Apple was poaching staff from NASA, Tesla, and other major automakers surfaced in 2015. In 2016, while its public plans were still unclear, the company submitted comments to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) supporting its automated-vehicle policy at the time. A year later, it became the 30th company to receive an autonomous testing permit in California.

Apple's next steps are anyone's guess. With $130 billion in the bank, they could restart Titan and kill it several times over without batting an eye.

Apple’s autonomous car division was last in the news back in August, when it hired ex-Tesla engineer and former Apple employee Doug Field to return to the fold and work alongside Bob Mansfield on the self-driving vehicle project.

Autopilot was active during fatal crash in Mountain View - Tesla

Last week's fatal Tesla Model X crash in Mountain View, California, occurred while the vehicle had Autopilot engaged, Tesla said in a Friday blog post. "Our hearts are with the family and friends who have been affected by this tragedy," the company said. The crash claimed the life of an Apple engineer, Walter Huang, according to the Bay Area's ABC 7 News.

The vehicle ran into a concrete lane divider at high speed. The crash, and a subsequent fire, fully destroyed the front of the vehicle.

"The reason this crash was so severe is that the crash attenuator, a highway safety barrier which is designed to reduce the impact into a concrete lane divider, had been crushed in a prior accident without being replaced," according to Tesla. "We have never seen this level of damage to a Model X in any other crash."

Huang's family has told local television station ABC 7 that, before the fatal crash, Huang had taken the vehicle into the Tesla dealership complaining about problems with Autopilot.

Tesla says it can't find any record of this, however.

"We've been doing a thorough search of our service records, and we cannot find anything suggesting that the customer ever complained to Tesla about the performance of Autopilot," a Tesla spokeswoman told Ars by email. "There was a concern raised once about navigation not working correctly, but Autopilot's performance is unrelated to navigation."

In recent years—especially since the first fatal Autopilot crash in 2016—Tesla has emphasized that Autopilot is a driver-assistance system—not a full self-driving technology. Drivers are expected to keep their hands on the wheel when Autopilot is active, and Tesla vehicles warn drivers if they take their hands off the wheel for an extended period.

"The driver had received several visual and one audible hands-on warning earlier in the drive," Tesla wrote. "The driver's hands were not detected on the wheel for six seconds prior to the collision."

Tesla said the driver had "about five seconds and 150 meters of unobstructed view" of the lane divider before the fatal crash.

Tesla-related crashes get disproportionate press coverage, but Tesla argued that Autopilot helps make Tesla vehicles safer than the average car.

"In the US, there is one automotive fatality every 86 million miles across all vehicles from all manufacturers," Tesla wrote. For Tesla vehicles equipped with Autopilot, there's been one fatality every 320 million miles, Tesla said.

Tesla Roadster Electric Supercar Races To A Top Speed Over 250 Mph

With a top speed of over 400 km/h (250 mph), the Tesla ‘roadster’ is an electric supercar that accelerates from 0 – 60 mph in 1.9 s, 0 – 100 mph in 4.2 s. The American-automaker may have just produced an electric car quicker than the Bugatti ‘Chiron's‘ of this world.

Tesla’s ‘roadster’ makes use three electric motors, one integrated at the front and two at the rear, and takes power from a 200 kWh battery pack – for context that is twice the capacity of the ‘model S P100D’. The manufacturer claims this offers a 620 mile (998 km) range. The supercar can seat up to four people, with a slightly larger interior architecture compared with other roadsters. the design team has taken an unconventional approach to building its convertible, so the central roof panel lifts out and can be stored in the boot. See more pictures below...