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Elon Musk says the Tesla Model X is the ‘Faberge egg of cars’

Stephen Lam | Reuters
Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk introduces the “falcon wing” door on the Model X electric sports-utility vehicle during a presentation in Fremont, California, on September 29, 2015.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk called the company's Model X luxury utility vehicle a “work of art” that he likened to the “Faberge egg of cars.”

“It's an incredible vehicle and probably nothing like it will ever be made again and maybe it shouldn't,” Musk told analysts after the company released its fourth-quarter earnings Wednesday. “But it is a work of art. It's a special work of art.”

The Tesla CEO said the planned Model Y crossover has been designed to share the same platform and most of the parts of the Model X.

The famed Faberge egg is a jeweled egg created by the House of Faberge in St. Petersburg, Russia from 1885 to 1917, first designed for Tsar Alexander III as a gift for his wife, the Empress Maria Feodorovna.

Auto website Jalopnik also seems to be smitten with the Model X, listing it naming among its favorite future classic cars in 2017.

“Look at the X. It's a giant space egg that dances and has flappy wings. No way this is not a collectible, whether or not Musk goes to Mars,” Jalopnik said.

Tesla shares drop sharply after Musk says CFO Ahuja is leaving the company — for the second time

Daniel Acker | Bloomberg | Getty Images
Deepak Ahuja, Tesla CFO (left) and Elon Musk, Tesla founder and CEO (right), at the Nasdaq opening bell ceremony for the Tesla initial public offering on Tuesday, June 29, 2010.

Tesla's long-time chief financial officer, Deepak Ahuja, is retiring from the company after almost 11 years, CEO Elon Musk said Wednesday.

It's the second time Ahuja has resigned from the company. He was one of Tesla's longest serving executives when he first left in 2015. Ahuja rejoined Tesla in 2017, replacing then-CFO Jason Wheeler, who abruptly resigned.

Shares of Tesla fell about 5 percent after the markets closed Wednesday night.

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Moving into the CFO role at the electric vehicle maker is Zach Kirkhorn, previously the company's vice president of finance. Ahuja said, “I feel really good about Zach taking over. He's proven his self over the years with many tough challenges he's worked on.”

Musk announced the change at the end of a conference call with analysts discussing the company's fourth-quarter earnings results.

Kirkhorn said, “I've been deep in the operations of every major program of the company from Roadster to…scaling our energy business and more things to come. I feel we're starting 2019 with a very strong financial foundation. We have enough cash to start new programs and develop new technologies.” Prior to his joining Tesla in 2010, Kirkhorn was formerly a business analyst at McKinsey & Co.

Musk said Ahuja will “continue to be at Tesla for a few more months, and will continue to serve as a senior adviser to Tesla for years to come.”

Ahuja first joined Tesla as CFO at the worst possible time: July 2008. He was with the company when it went public in 2010.

Tesla's finance team has seen high turnover in the past year with one chief accounting officer, Dave Morton, spending less than a month at the company.

Other long-time veterans have been resigning from Tesla in the past six months, for example, Charles Mwangi, a senior director of engineering who had been with Tesla since 2012, and one of Tesla's first-ever sales hires, Jeremy Snyder, who left his role as head of global business development there in August, according to his LinkedIn profile.

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Argo AI can now test self-driving cars in California – CNET

Argo AI is set to expand its fleet of autonomous development vehicles to a fifth location. Argo AI has received a permit from the California Department of Motor Vehicles to test autonomous cars within state borders, Automotive News reports, citing the DMV’s records. The vehicles will hit the roads around Argo AI’s headquarters in Palo… Continue reading Argo AI can now test self-driving cars in California – CNET

Nikola Motors Targets Laid Off Tesla Workers

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Clean Transport Published on January 29th, 2019 | by Steve Hanley
Nikola Motors Targets Laid Off Tesla WorkersTwitterLinkedInFacebookJanuary 29th, 2019 by Steve Hanley
Trevor Milton, CEO of Nikola Motors, is using LinkedIn to invite workers laid off recently by Tesla to apply for work at his company. “Forward this on to all Tesla workers,” the message says. “Anyone who was affected by the #tesla layoffs, please let me know and I’ll try to get you in front of our HR to be reviewed. We have hired as many as fit our positions from the #faraday and #gm layoffs so this is not a bash on Tesla. We are hiring hundreds of positions and have large cash reserves with a great company culture.” (h/t The Drive)

Tesla and Nikola have not had the most cordial of relationships in the past. As we’ve reported before, Nikola has sued Tesla, claiming Tesla’s all-electric Semi is a thinly disguised knockoff of its own proposed vehicle, which will be powered by electricity from hydrogen fuel cells. Nikola says Tesla has copied its idea for a central opening and wraparound windshield, among other things.
If Nikola’s claims are accurate, it has taken reservations worth $8 billion for its truck — enough to cover the cost of 7,000 vehicles. By contrast, Tesla is believed to have received about 650 pre-orders for its Semi. Neither company has announced when production is expected to begin.
Milton is at pains to make it clear this latest move is not a knock on Tesla but simply an attempt to help talented people who suddenly find themselves out of a job. “I feel for everyone that goes through that especially with financial obligations. If #tesla could they would keep everyone but it’s the result in growing in a competitive market. I hope I can help all those affected.”

To be clear, Milton is not saying his company will hire all former Tesla employees who apply. His offer is only to expedite the application process if they choose to come work at Nikola. One clear advantage is that Nikola Motors is based near Salt Lake City, Utah, where the cost of housing is considerably less than in the superheated real estate market of Silicon Valley.
One unanswered question about Nikola’s business plan is where its customers will be able to refuel their trucks once they are produced and on the road. Hydrogen refueling stations can cost $2 million or more while EV charging equipment runs a few hundred thousand at most, even for the Megachargers Tesla will need to recharge its own electric trucks.
Then there is the question of where to obtain a supply of hydrogen. In the United States, most hydrogen comes from natural gas and most natural gas comes from fracking — one of the dirtiest energy technologies of all. Between the harm caused to the environment by injecting water loaded with chemicals deep underground and the damage caused by methane emissions from fracking operations, the natural gas that results has a carbon footprint equivalent to coal.
It’s hard to see how Nikola’s fuel cell powered trucks can claim to have the same environmental benefits of the Tesla Semi. Which is important, since the whole point of electric trucks is to reduce carbon emissions from the transportation sector. Nikola Motors may have 7,000 reservations for its truck, but if so, the companies who placed those orders are being very quiet about their commitments.

About the AuthorSteve Hanley Steve writes about the interface between technology and sustainability from his home in Rhode Island and anywhere else the Singularity may lead him. His motto is, “Life is not measured by how many breaths we take but by the number of moments that take our breath away!” You can follow him on Google + and on Twitter.

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Amazon is hauling cargo in self-driving trucks developed by Embark

Amazon is using self-driving trucks developed by Embark to haul some cargo on the I-10 interstate highway, CNBC has learned.

The trucks were previously noticed by a Reddit user, who photographed and shared images this week showing tractors emblazoned with the Embark logo and trailers painted with the Amazon Prime logo.

Saw this on the I-10 today. Is amazon making driverless trucks? from r/SelfDrivingCars

Embark integrates its self-driving systems into Peterbilt semis, rather than building its own vehicles completely from scratch. Generally, Embark trucks operate on roads with test drivers on board.

Embark and other firms working on autonomous systems – including fellow start-ups like Ike, Thor Trucks and Pronto.ai, and major players like Alphabet's Waymo and Tesla – aim to alleviate industry pains by making existing truck drivers safer and more efficient.

A driver shortage currently plagues the trucking industry, owing in part to the low pay and difficult schedules and conditions of the job. A lack of available drivers and trucks poses a challenge to e-commerce companies, obviously including Amazon, whose customers expect deliveries in a relatively short time.

CNBC asked both companies for further details about how they work together, but both declined to comment specifically on the deal.

Embark CEO Alex Rodrigues said, “Embark moves freight for a number of major companies on the I-10, however we cannot discuss any company specifically as our relationships are confidential.”

An Amazon spokesperson said, “We are always innovating and working with innovative companies to improve the customer experience and safety of our team. We think successful over-the-road autonomy will create safer roadways and a better work environment for drivers on long-haul runs. ”

Expect to see more autonomous trucks in circulation in the U.S. soon.

In October 2018, the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration issued its updated AV3.0 policy, which has helped autonomous vehicle firms like Embark figure out how to test their technology before driving on public roads, and which rules they need to comply with to stay there.

Founded in 2016, Embark has raised at least $47 million in venture funding from firms including Sequoia Capital, Data Collective, Y Combinator and AME Cloud Ventures.

WATCH:
Self-driving truck drives Los Angeles to Jacksonville

Embark Trucks self-driving truck drives Los Angeles to Jacksonville
8:40 PM ET Tue, 6 Feb 2018 | 01:08

Tesla Model 3 Battery Current Collector: Radically Different Design

Compared to the Tesla Model S and X, the Model 3 current collector design is quite different. Why? We have a reason that we will explain later in the article, but, for now, let’s just review what Tesla did to the current collector design in the Model 3. Then we can speculate on why they… Continue reading Tesla Model 3 Battery Current Collector: Radically Different Design

Avinew Raises $5M in Seed Funding

Dan Peate Avinew, a Westlake Village, Calif.-based insurtech company focused on autonomous and semi-autonomous auto insurance, raised $5M in seed funding. The round was led by Crosscut, with participation from American Family Ventures, Draper Frontier, and RPM Ventures. Led by Dan Peate, Founder and CEO, Jeremy Snyder, COO, Mike Cassanego, General Counsel and Co-founder, and… Continue reading Avinew Raises $5M in Seed Funding

Tesla Changes Model S & X Trims & Pricing, Drops Names Based On Battery Sizes

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Autonomous Vehicles Published on January 29th, 2019 | by Kyle Field
Tesla Changes Model S & X Trims & Pricing, Drops Names Based On Battery SizesTwitterLinkedInFacebookJanuary 29th, 2019 by Kyle Field
Tesla moments ago rolled out a change to its online vehicle configuration tool for the Model S and Model X. As Tesla CEO Elon Musk implied last year, the company has done away with any mention of the battery size in the vehicle name or description. Instead, they are describing the vehicle options in terms of the thing we care about — range. As a special bonus, the pricing on every build in the lineup has been dropped a bit, giving buyers a bit more bang for their buck across the board.

The change has been rumored ever since the company dropped mention of battery capacity when it first took the wraps off the Model 3, announcing its Standard Range and Long Range configurations and listing the miles but not the battery capacity in kilowatt-hours.
However, Tesla has opted for a slightly different approach now with Model S and X. There are no longer batteries of different sizes put in these vehicles based on the trim you pick. The two range options are simply controlled by software.
Model S UpdatesThe base build of the Model S, which has no special name, is now $85,000 in the US for a dual-motor build that can travel 310 miles on a charge. Remember, though, since that’s a software-limited range, an owner who decides they want more range can, at any time, opt to bump the range up from there. All that’s needed is a bit more cash and some over-the-air magic.

The Model S Extended Range bumps the price up $8,000 for an 8% increase in range, up to 335 miles per charge. Neither the top speed of 155 miles per hour or the 0–60 mph time of 4.1 seconds changes with the Extended Range software update, so all that cash is going straight to extra range in the battery.
For those who need a bit of adrenaline with their morning coffee, the Model S Performance tips the scales at a clean $112,000 for a car that will travel 315 miles per charge. That comes with the same battery pack as its less spritely siblings, but it sports upgraded performance hardware in the car that allows it to go from 0–60 mph in just 3.0 seconds.
For those looking for the proverbial nitrous boost, Ludicrous Mode can still be stacked on top of that for an extra $20,000, which translates to a mind boggling 20% more performance — perhaps that’s where the $20K figure comes from. In terms of hard data, you’ll fly from 0–60 mph in just 2.4 seconds, which gives me flashbacks just thinking about. Not to shy away from the numbers, the Ludicrous Tesla Model S Performance will set buyers back $132,000 for the whole platform, and that’s not including any of the other options downstream, like paint, rims, and the like.

Model X UpdatesThe Tesla Model X nomenclature has also been recalibrated based on a standard battery pack for all configurations. Its new base price is $88,000 in the US. That configuration provides 270 miles of range on a full charge.
For those who like pushing the boundaries, an Extended Range build unlocks an additional 25 miles, boosting the range per charge up to 295 miles for an extra $8,000, or a total price of $96,000. Because it’s just a software update that unlocks the extra capacity, the Extended Range option can again be purchased with the car or after the fact as a simple update.

The Model X is no sports car, but it is the fastest and safest SUV out there. However, that speed comes at a price. Bumping the car up to the Performance build drops the 0–60 mph time from 4.7 seconds in the base configuration to 3.5 seconds. Getting to the grocery store for a gallon of milk that much faster might be fun, but it comes at the expense of efficiency as well, as the range of the Model X Performance drops from 295 miles to 289 miles per charge. (I know — 6 miles makes all the difference in the world … almost never.)
Finally, we have the peel-your-eyeballs-off-the-seat Ludicrous Model X Performance. Just like on the S, the Ludicrous upgrade will set buyers back $20,000 for 20% more performance. The real question at this point is not the money — it’s about going 0–60 mph in 2.8 seconds — because let’s be real, buyers who are dropping $137,000 on a Model X aren’t really worried about efficiency. They just want to go fast and look good doing it.
SummaryThese naming recalibrations come as no surprise and put Tesla’s two premium vehicles back at price points that give buyers more options for balancing range and price. Either way, speed is still going to cost you, but at least you can get into a Model S or X at more approachable prices than last week. These changes are live in the Model S and Model X configurators right now, so head on over and configure your dream car. Whether you click that little blue order button or not at the end of the build is up to you.
If this article has helped you make a decision to purchase a Tesla vehicle, you can use our referral code to get 6 months of free Supercharging.

About the AuthorKyle Field I'm a tech geek passionately in search of actionable ways to reduce the negative impact my life has on the planet, save money and reduce stress. Live intentionally, make conscious decisions, love more, act responsibly, play. The more you know, the less you need. TSLA investor. Tesla referral code: http://ts.la/kyle623

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Tesla Partners With Local Community Colleges To Attract Talent At Gigafactory 1

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Autonomous Vehicles Published on January 29th, 2019 | by Kyle Field
Tesla Partners With Local Community Colleges To Attract Talent At Gigafactory 1TwitterLinkedInFacebookJanuary 29th, 2019 by Kyle Field
Tesla is looking to the local community for future employees through its Manufacturing Development Program, which is being offered through Nevada’s Jobs for America’s Graduates program. The program aims to connect high school graduates in Nevada with the skills required to land a job or move forward with postsecondary education. Naturally, it connects nicely to the high-tech manufacturing jobs at Tesla’s booming Gigafactory outside Sparks, Nevada.
Image credit: Tesla
Tesla’s Manufacturing Development Program gives high school grads the chance to plug in at the Gigafactory as a full-time production associate with opportunities to grow from there, if it turns out to be a good fit. Those who make it through the program will be given the opportunity to receive a more specialized education in automation and robotics at the nearby Truckee Meadows Community College in Reno, Nevada.
For Tesla, the program offers the company a pipeline of new talent that the company can run through. It is essentially a curated internship at the Gigafactory. If it turns out to be a good fit, Tesla can then afford to invest a bit in further education to really kickstart the careers of new Teslanauts.
The program does not just look at job placement, but also includes housing near the University of Nevada’s campus, with a daily shuttle that runs back and forth to the Gigafactory. The prospect of landing a starter job at Tesla’s monster Gigafactory with all of the accoutrements that are included with the program seems like a great way for a company to not only build a pipeline of new hires for itself, but to help high school grads find a career path that’s best suited for them.
Image credit: Tesla
Granted, that’s “only” within Tesla, but in a company of its size and especially at a facility already sporting more than 7,000 employees with plans to grow to more than 10,000, jobs can be found in almost any line of work, if you’re willing to put some effort into it. When I was hired at Procter & Gamble almost 20 years ago (okay, it was 20 years ago as of this year), I looked at it as the ultimate Choose Your Own Adventure opportunity, and because I really had no idea what I wanted to do with my life at the time, it was perfect.
The partner program with the state of Nevada may be a local program, but it also includes federally funded relocation assistance to allow folks from around the country to get in on the action at a growing facility in a very fast-paced company in a region that’s hot on supporting them through the early stages of the Gigafactory’s production ramp.
The new program ties into Tesla’s existing Gigafactory Training Gateway, which was developed to leverage the factory as a platform for education. Through the program, local schools have created a special 15-credit curriculum focused on advanced manufacturing to build the skills needed for potential employees to thrive at the Gigafactory.
Image credit: Tesla
The Gigafactory Training Gateway was created using funds from Workforce Innovation for the New Nevada (WINN), which was established by the Governor’s Office of Economic Development back in 2015 to help support new industries in the state with educational programs. According to the Northern Nevada Business View, there are more than 120 active Tesla team members in the program, and a large batch is set to move on from the 12–18 month program this spring.
The focus on education in partnership with local community colleges and government programs provides Tesla with a low-risk means of bringing in, vetting, and educating new talent at its Gigafactory.
The upshot of building a factory in the middle of the Nevada desert is that land is cheap (or free) and the local government was tripping all over itself to get Tesla out there, but the challenges of spooling up a force of 10,000 highly trained workers in a remote location are very real. These programs show that Tesla is looking at the problem very pragmatically, leveraging government and internal funds to build relevant skills in the area, and hopefully pulling in some new hires along the way.
Source: Northern Nevada Business View via Reddit

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Chinese EV carmaker NIO aims to raise $650 million via convertible bond

HONG KONG (Reuters) – Electric carmaker NIO Inc, among rivals to Tesla in China, launched a $650 million five-year convertible bond on Wednesday, aiming to use the proceeds to fund expansion. FILE PHOTO: A man is silhouetted in front of Nio cars at the auto show, in Shanghai, China April 20, 2017. REUTERS/Aly Song The… Continue reading Chinese EV carmaker NIO aims to raise $650 million via convertible bond