- Drone footage reveals Tesla is benchmarking different automakers’ EVs.
- Two are very probably Polestar 3s, and one other two are most likely Volvos whereas the coated sedan may very well be an Audi E-Tron GT.
- Seeing Tesla benchmark a bunch of competing autos is uncommon because it was once the OEMs that have been benchmarking Teslas.
Tesla could be very completely different from the standard automakers, however in a single key manner it’s precisely the identical: it buys rivals’ autos to benchmark them and reverse-engineer their improvements. A latest drone video reveals eight vehicles underneath white tarps parked in a line exterior the Fremont, CA manufacturing facility 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, a minimum of two of the crossovers are undoubtedly seem like Polestar 3s, primarily based on the form of their roof.
One other two could be Volvo EC40s, which have a extra pronounced fastback-like rear finish but in addition 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 may very well 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 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 often called Venture Redwood, however Tesla would probably do a greater job of conserving a Redwood prototype out of sight. The identical platform will probably underpin the Mannequin S alternative if one is even coming, however we doubt that’s the automobile underneath the tarp.
The truth that all these coated vehicles have been noticed subsequent to the take a look at observe additional strengthens the concept they have been introduced there for benchmarking functions. Tesla is probably going analyzing the competitors, which has turn out to be a lot stiffer over the previous couple of years, and the EV section is simply going to get extra aggressive. Again in April 2022, a Lucid Air was noticed doing laps of the Fremont take a look at observe absolutely uncovered.
Automakers do that the entire time; this 12 months alone, the InsideEVs workers has seen a number of Chinese language EVs on the amenities of Detroit’s Huge Three automakers.
Nevertheless, that was one of many uncommon cases when Tesla was caught benchmarking one other producer’s automobile. It was often the opposite manner round: different producers have been seen benchmarking Teslas, drawing information for their very own EV tasks. Nevertheless, 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 stunning.
