- Drone footage reveals Tesla is benchmarking different automakers’ EVs.
- Two are very probably Polestar 3s, and one other two are in all probability Volvos whereas the coated sedan could possibly be an Audi E-Tron GT.
- Seeing Tesla benchmark a gaggle of competing autos is uncommon because it was once the OEMs that have been benchmarking Teslas.
Tesla may be very totally different from the normal automakers, however in a single key means it’s precisely the identical: it buys rivals’ autos to benchmark them and reverse-engineer their improvements. A current drone video reveals eight vehicles beneath white tarps parked in a line exterior the Fremont, CA manufacturing unit take a look at observe, and certain that none of them are Teslas.
The drone video uploaded by Met God in Wilderness (and noticed by Electrek) reveals eight vehicles coated by white tarps. Seven of them are crossovers, and one appears like a low-slung automobile, probably a sedan or a fastback. Upon nearer inspection, no less than two of the crossovers are positively look like Polestar 3s, primarily based on the form of their roof.
One other two may 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 several autos. Relating to the low-slung automobile, our greatest guess is that it could possibly be an Audi E-Tron GT or a Porsche Taycan, each of which have been refreshed this 12 months with much more energy, vary and larger batteries.
We don’t suppose 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 will probably be used to underpin a number of future autos. The primary of those is a crossover at the moment solely often called Challenge Redwood, however Tesla would probably do a greater job of holding a Redwood prototype out of sight. The identical platform will probably underpin the Mannequin S substitute if one is even coming, however we doubt that’s the automobile beneath the tarp.
The truth that all these coated vehicles have been noticed subsequent to the take a look at 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 few years, and the EV phase is just going to get extra aggressive. Again in April 2022, a Lucid Air was noticed doing laps of the Fremont take a look at observe totally uncovered.
Automakers do that all the time; this 12 months alone, the InsideEVs workers has seen a couple of Chinese language EVs on the amenities 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 often the opposite means round: different producers have been seen benchmarking Teslas, drawing data for their very own EV initiatives. 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 least stunning.
