- Drone footage exhibits Tesla is benchmarking different automakers’ EVs.
- Two are very possible Polestar 3s, and one other two are most likely Volvos whereas the lined sedan might be an Audi E-Tron GT.
- Seeing Tesla benchmark a bunch of competing autos is uncommon because it was the OEMs that have been benchmarking Teslas.
Tesla may be very completely different from the standard automakers, however in a single key approach it’s precisely the identical: it buys opponents’ autos to benchmark them and reverse-engineer their improvements. A current drone video exhibits eight automobiles below white tarps parked in a line exterior the Fremont, CA manufacturing facility check observe, and sure that none of them are Teslas.
The drone video uploaded by Met God in Wilderness (and noticed by Electrek) exhibits eight automobiles lined by white tarps. Seven of them are crossovers, and one appears like a low-slung automobile, presumably a sedan or a fastback. Upon nearer inspection, not less than two of the crossovers are positively look like Polestar 3s, primarily based on the form of their roof.
One other two is likely to be Volvo EC40s, which have a extra pronounced fastback-like rear finish but additionally seem extra squared off within the rear in comparison with a Tesla Mannequin Y.
It could make sense to have autos from each Volvo and Polestar, which use the identical platforms and powertrains in numerous autos. Relating to the low-slung automobile, our greatest guess is that it might be an Audi E-Tron GT or a Porsche Taycan, each of which have been refreshed this yr with much more energy, vary and larger batteries.
We don’t assume any of the crossovers are the Mannequin Y “Juniper” refresh since that gained’t change the form of the physique to such an extent. The rear finish appears much more sq. than the tapering fastback-like roof of both the Mannequin Y or Mannequin X.
Tesla is reportedly engaged on a new platform internally designated NV9X, which shall be used to underpin a number of future autos. The primary of those is a crossover at the moment solely generally known as Venture Redwood, however Tesla would possible do a greater job of preserving a Redwood prototype out of sight. The identical platform will possible underpin the Mannequin S alternative if one is even coming, however we doubt that’s the automobile below the tarp.
The truth that all these lined automobiles have been noticed subsequent to the check observe additional strengthens the concept that they have been introduced there for benchmarking functions. Tesla is probably going analyzing the competitors, which has develop into a lot stiffer over the previous couple of years, and the EV section is just going to get extra aggressive. Again in April 2022, a Lucid Air was noticed doing laps of the Fremont check observe totally uncovered.
Automakers do that the entire time; this yr alone, the InsideEVs workers has seen a number of Chinese language EVs on the services of Detroit’s Large Three automakers.
Nonetheless, that was one of many uncommon cases when Tesla was caught benchmarking one other producer’s automobile. It was normally the opposite approach round: different producers have been seen benchmarking Teslas, drawing information for their very own EV tasks. Nonetheless, now that so many producers are producing EVs that not solely rival however even surpass Tesla’s personal, seeing the tables flip isn’t in the slightest degree shocking.
