Elon Planet

Tesla Inc. ’s new Model Y has what people have come to expect from Elon Musk’s cars: It’s lightning quick, handles nicely and has better electronic gadgetry than its competitors. Unlike past Tesla offerings, early versions are rolling off the assembly line looking more like you’d expect from a company with a handle on the finer points of car building, according to Sandy Munro. The manufacturing consultant who’s been tearing cars apart piece-by-piece for three decades offered his initial impressions before digging into the Model Y that his shop took delivery of this week. “I don’t have much negative to say,” Munro said in an interview. “It’s much better than the  Model 3  when we got it. We found problems, but the average car buyer won’t even see these things.” Munro and his eponymous firm have been well known for years among Detroit’s automotive engineers for their in-depth analysis of hundreds of cars from virtually every manufacturer. He gained wider noto...

Tesla has officially started delivering the first Model Ys to customers in the US ahead of its original schedule, and despite the world becoming increasingly wrapped up in the grips of the coronavirus pandemic. The company tweeted a video Monday showing the small electric SUV going through the production process and being tested in different parts of the world, along with a link to the order page. A few of the first deliveries were also  spotted over the weekend  by some Tesla-focused YouTubers like Teslanomics’ Ben Sullins. First unveiled in March 2019, the Model Y is the company’s fifth all-electric car to go into production. It’s a small SUV built on the same technological platform as the Model 3 sedan, with the two cars sharing about 75 percent of parts. There are a few key differences, though, like a full hatch door at the rear (which is motorized), extra headroom, and an optional small third row with two shotgun-style seats. While the Model 3 has prov...