2023 Tesla Model Y Long Range Dual Motor All-wheel Drive on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Tesla Uber alles in Shanghai

Is anyone surprised that Tesla Motors is ready to disrupt the status quo even in little ways? If you are, then here's one more example: Tesla is partnering with Uber (which taxi drivers around the world are not happy with) in Shanghai to both give people free, 15-minute rides in the electric car. Think of it as the free Supercharger miles for the don't-own-a-Tesla set. It's a small, limited promotion defined by the fact that you can't actually order yourself a Tesla. Instead, if you're looking for a ride in Shanghai's inner ring on Wednesday, you can hope that one of the "few super-secret Teslas on the system" will come and pick you and up to three friends up. What's completely different about this Uber ride is that it's not a ride at all. Instead, if you have your drivers license, you can get behind the wheel and driver for up to 15 minutes. CNET says that this is only the first of more Tesla-Uber promotions. Tesla is supplying the vehicles and a spokesperson said it was, "only a pilot test at the moment."

Consumer Reports says Tesla Model S reliability is just 'average'

Tesla Motors chief Elon Musk strikes us as someone who retches at the word "average," especially when it's applied to one of his companies. But that's the reliability grade his company's Model S all-electric sedan has received from Consumer Reports. From what others have reported, that might not be a bad thing. CR reached its conclusion by factoring in both its own experiences and the responses from more than 1,300 Model S owners. Slow response from retractable door handles and creaky windshields were two widely reported issues, but it should be noted that Tesla scored good marks for being willing to foot the bill for all repairs. In the grand scheme of things, CR says Tesla is comparable, reliability-wise, to the Acura RLX. While luxury models from Audi and Lexus have scored better, Cadillac and Mercedes-Benz models have recorded scores "far worse," the magazine said. After almost 16,000 miles in its Model S, CR needed to have the car's infotainment screen hard reset and had one unscheduled service. Meanwhile, Edmunds reported that its 17 months with a $105,000 2013 Model S required seven unscheduled service visits, and it needed nine information screen resets. The drive unit needed to be replaced three times. We think CR would not have found that "average."

Arizona may soon allow direct Tesla EV sales

Arizona was one of a handful of states in the southwestern US to lose out on getting Tesla Motors' massive gigafactory (Nevada won those honors last year). But one can't exactly accuse state legislators of being sore losers. That's because some Arizona politicos are looking to free up state laws and allow for direct automaker-to-consumer sales for the electric vehicles, says Hybrid Cars. Last week, Arizona's House Commerce Committee voted in favor House Bill (HB 2216), which gets the state at least one step towards the approval of Tesla sales. The catch is that, for one, Tesla can't have an established relationship with a dealer (we don't think that's an issue), and, two, Tesla will have to build a service center in Arizona for repairs, recalls or warranty issues. "Consumers should be allowed the choice of how they wish to purchase their vehicles and the Commerce Committee vote validates that choice," Tesla spokeswoman Alexis Georgeson wrote in an e-mail to AutoblogGreen. "Tesla looks forward to working with legislators as this bill moves through the legislative process." For now, though, Arizona remains in the same boat as Michigan (home to the Big Three US automakers), Texas (which is fiercely protective of its existing dealership interests) and New Jersey in barring Tesla sales within its borders. A number of other states, such as Georgia and Connecticut, continue to be in play in terms of working on laws that may allow for Tesla to sell to its citizens.