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☆ This Tesla YouTuber had 2 broken Cybertrucks, but still calls it his 'dream car'
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-13 | by ( Tom Carter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

"It was love at first sight," said Lamar, who did not wish to provide his full name but goes by Lamar MK on YouTube. AdvertisementYouTuber Lamar MK with his first Cybertruck. YouTuber Lamar MK with his new Cybertruck, which broke a few weeks after he got it. After getting his new Cybertruck delivered, Lamar MK had it wrapped to give it a blue and yellow color scheme. Tesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider, made outside normal working hours.

Persons: —, hasn't, Lamar MK, Tesla, Lamar, YouTuber Lamar, Cybertruck, I'm Organizations: Service, Lamar, Business, YouTube, Tesla

☆ Elon Musk denies he volunteered his sperm to help start a Martian colony
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-12 | by ( Tom Carter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Read previewElon Musk has denied that he offered up his sperm to help start a colony on Mars. "I have not, for what it's worth, 'volunteered my sperm'" wrote Musk in a post on X. Two people with knowledge of Musk's comments also told the NYT the Tesla CEO had volunteered his sperm to help grow the colony. Experts told Business Insider that it is unclear how practical it would be for Musk to send sperm to Mars. Elon Musk and SpaceX did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider, made outside normal working hours.

Persons: —, Elon Musk, I've, Musk, Adam Watkins Organizations: Service, SpaceX, New York Times, Business, Times, Mars, University of Nottingham Locations: Mars

☆ Hyundai is accused of falsely inflating EV sales in the US to appease its South Korean owners
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-11 | by ( Tom Carter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

A new lawsuit accuses Hyundai of artificially inflating its EV sales numbers. The lawsuit said one manager told a dealer he had to "hit a number" to appease Hyundai's South Korean owners. Hyundai has reported strong EV sales in recent months, even as demand for electric cars has slowed. AdvertisementHyundai has been accused of artificially inflating its EV sales in a lawsuit filed by a group of dealers. The lawsuit says that the automaker encouraged dealers to falsely record sales of unsold electric models and accused one sales manager of telling a dealership he was "up against the wall" and had to "hit a number" to appease Hyundai's South Korean owners.

Persons: Hyundai's, — Organizations: Hyundai, Service, Business

☆ NASA says it has no plans to use SpaceX to rescue two stranded astronauts
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-11 | by ( Tom Carter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Read previewNASA said it has no plans right now to send one of Elon Musk's spacecrafts to rescue two astronauts stranded on the International Space Station. Speaking in a joint NASA-Boeing press briefing on Wednesday, NASA official Steve Stich said there had been "no discussion" about sending a SpaceX Dragon to pick up NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, stranded on the ISS aboard Boeing's Starliner spacecraft. The prospect of the astronauts being rescued by SpaceX would be humiliating for Boeing, which is competing with Elon Musk's rocket company to transport astronauts to the ISS. The aviation giant has lagged behind SpaceX, which completed its first crewed mission to the ISS with its Dragon capsule in 2020. Boeing and NASA did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider, made outside normal working hours.

Persons: —, Elon Musk's, Steve Stich, Suni Williams, Butch Wilmore, NASA's, Stich, Elon, we've, Butch, Suni, We've, Starliner, Musk, David Calhoun's Organizations: Service, NASA, Space, Boeing, SpaceX, Business, NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Elon Musk's, Alaska Airlines Locations: Florida, Starliner

☆ Former SpaceX worker describes 'frat boy' culture where colleagues joked about overseeing launches while drunk
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-10 | by ( Tom Carter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

An ex-SpaceX employee told Bloomberg that working at SpaceX was like being a "babysitter for frat boys." She said some SpaceX employees discussed a drinking game on work email and joked about being intoxicated to oversee launches. The culture at Elon Musk's rocket firm has come under growing scrutiny in recent months. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementA new Bloomberg report has shed light on SpaceX's working culture, with a former employee describing her colleagues as "frat boys."

Persons: —, Paige Holland Organizations: SpaceX, Bloomberg, Service, Elon Locations: Elon

☆ Beware, Elon Musk — BYD just took its next step toward world domination
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-09 | by ( Tom Carter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

download the appSign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Business Insider contacted BYD for comment but didn't immediately hear back. Turkey is part of the EU's Customs Union, and any BYD cars manufactured there could avoid the 17.4% additional tariff the EU slapped on BYD vehicles imported from China. Plans by Chinese EV giants BYD, MG, and Chery to build factories in Mexico have sparked concern among US officials over fears they could be used as a "backdoor" into the US market.

Persons: —, Elon, Mehmet Fatih, BYD, didn't, It's, Philip Nothard, Nothard, Elon Musk, Tesla Organizations: Service, Business, Union, EV, EU's Customs Union, BYD, Chery, Cox Automotive Locations: Turkey, Europe, China, Mexico, Germany

☆ Europe hopes to take on Elon Musk's SpaceX with new rocket launch
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-08 | by ( Tom Carter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Europe has been dependent on Elon Musk's SpaceX to reach space — but that could be about to change. The Ariane 6, Europe's answer to SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket, is set to launch on Tuesday. Officials hope it will compete with SpaceX's rockets, but Elon Musk isn't so sure. AdvertisementSpaceX is dominating the global space industry — but Europe is hoping a new rocket will change that. On Tuesday, the 200-foot tall Ariane 6 rocket plans to launch for the first time after years of delays from a spaceport in French Guiana, carrying the hopes of Europe's space industry and its ambition of competing with Elon Musk's rocket firm into orbit.

Persons: Elon Musk, — Organizations: Elon, SpaceX, SpaceX's, Service Locations: Europe, Guiana

☆ Ford is so desperate to push EVs that it's making managers lease them
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-04 | by ( Tom Carter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

The automaker is changing its leasing scheme to encourage managers to go electric, per Reuters. It comes as Ford's electric vehicle business battles struggling sales and substantial losses. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . According to an internal company email viewed by Reuters, the automaker has changed its leasing policy for some employees to encourage them to buy the company's EVs. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers.

Persons: Ford, — Organizations: Service, Reuters, Business

☆ EV sales have hit a speed bump. Using AI to improve their batteries could get more people back in the driving seat.
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-29 | by ( Tom Carter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Chemix is using machine-learning algorithms to develop EV batteries that can charge more quickly, hold more energy, and last longer than current EV power units. Koeller said the primary advantage of using AI to design EV batteries is that it dramatically speeds up the process. Better EV batteriesDesigning EV batteries is a three-step process, Georgia Tech assistant professor Micah Ziegler told BI. The solid-state electrolyte they discovered relies less on lithium, an increasingly rare resource that forms the core of today's EV batteries. Mueller said that PNNL's collaboration with Microsoft has convinced him that generative AI could have applications far beyond speeding up EV battery design.

Persons: —, Jason Koeller, Koeller, Micah Ziegler, Ziegler, Karl Mueller, Mueller, it's Organizations: Service, Business, EV, Georgia Tech, BI, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Microsoft Locations: California

☆ Starliner still hasn't returned to Earth. The repeated delays may be the next big headache for Boeing.
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-27 | by ( Tom Carter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Two NASA astronauts are still in space after Boeing's Starliner spacecraft faced delays. The company faces questions over safety after a door plug on one of its planes blew out in midair. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . You can opt-out at any time by visiting our Preferences page or by clicking "unsubscribe" at the bottom of the email. AdvertisementWhen Boeing announced in 2015 that its $4.2 billion spacecraft would be named Starliner, NASA officials hailed the manufacturer's innovation as a "great victory" that heralded the start of a new age of space exploration.

Persons: —, Butch Wilmore, William Organizations: NASA, Boeing, Service, International

☆ Tesla recalls over 11,000 Cybertrucks due to wiper issue
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-25 | by ( Tom Carter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: 1 min

Tesla is recalling over 11,000 Cybertrucks because of an issue with the vehicle's windscreen wiper. AdvertisementThe automaker will replace wiper motors on all affected vehicles over fears they could become damaged due to "electrical overstress," a recall report issued by regulators said. The recall includes all model year 2024 Cybertrucks manufactured from November 13, 2023, to June 6, 2024This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now. Have an account?

Persons: Tesla, Cybertrucks Organizations: Business

☆ How Chinese EV makers are slowly taking over the world
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-22 | by ( Tom Carter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +14 min

Chinese carmakers accounted for 88% of the EV market in Brazil and 70% in Thailand in Q1, according to ABI Research figures. The EV markets in many of these countries are small now, but they're growing rapidly. This is because Chinese automakers are known for their ability to build electric cars for less than their foreign competitors. Australian Senator and shadow cyber-security minister James Paterson said earlier this year that Chinese EVs pose a growing cybersecurity risk. "India is still a little wary of the Chinese market," said Dylan Khoo, an analyst at ABI Research.

Persons: —, BYD, Joe Biden, Bill Russo, Susan Walsh Sam Fiorani, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, São Paulo, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Marcel Martin, Katherine Tai, Elon Musk, SONNY TUMBELAKA, They're, Automobility, Tesla, John Keeble, James Paterson, Fiorani, Indranil Aditya, Dylan Khoo, Warren Buffett, Xpeng, William Li, HECTOR RETAMAL, America's, Russo, WuYuan Organizations: Service, Detroit, EV, Business, Research, Ford, Toyota, Volkswagen, EU, AP, AutoForecast Solutions, Brazilian Electric Vehicle Association, Great Wall Motors, Anadolu Agency, Getty, International Council, Clean Transportation, Chery, Total, China Passenger Car Association, Reuters, Honda, Mitsubishi, International Energy Agency, Federal, of Automotive Industries, SAIC, AutoForecast, BYD, SAIC Motors, India's, ABI Research, Union Locations: Camaçari, Brazilian, Bahia, Brazil, Mexico, Southeast Asia, Europe, Thailand, China, Shanghai, EU, São, Johannesburg, South Africa, Southeast Asia Southeast Asia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Indonesia's West Java, Philippines, Australia, Hangzhou, Queensland, India India, India, Europe Europe, Hungary, France, Spain, Portugal, South Korea

☆ China spends at least $230 billion trying to win the EV race, study finds
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-21 | by ( Tom Carter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Read previewChina has spent at least $230 billion on government support to electric vehicle makers such as BYD since 2009, according to a new study from the Centre for Strategic & International Studies think tank. Government subsidies have been a central pillar of China's quest to become an EV powerhouse over the past decade. AdvertisementChina is now the world's largest electric vehicle market, accounting for 60% of global EV sales in 2023, per the IEA — well above rivals like the US and Japan. EV makers in China can get government support through several routes, including infrastructure subsidies, tax exemptions, and buyer rebates. Massive government support has cultivated intense competition among China's legion of EV companies, which in turn has led to low prices.

Persons: —, BYD, Tesla Organizations: Service, Centre, Strategic & International Studies, Business, European Union, EV, CSIS, Battery, Penn Wharton University Locations: China, Europe, Japan, America

☆ Boeing's leaking Starliner spacecraft has delayed 2 astronauts' return to Earth
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-20 | by ( Tom Carter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Two astronauts will be at the ISS for longer than planned, following issues with Boeing's Starliner. NASA and Boeing have pushed back Starliner's return to June 26 to review data from the mission. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementTwo NASA astronauts have been left waiting to return home from the International Space Station because of issues with Boeing's Starliner spacecraft. NASA and Boeing announced on Tuesday that Starliner's return had been delayed to June 26 after the troubled vessel's first crewed launch was hampered by technical issues.

Persons: Boeing's Starliner, —, Starliner's, Butch Wilmore, Suni Williams Organizations: ISS, NASA, Boeing, Service, International

☆ Embattled EV startup Fisker files for bankruptcy
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-18 | by ( Grace Kay | Tom Carter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Fisker has filed for bankruptcy, following its warnings of potential business failure. Fisker is one of several companies to face headwinds from an EV sales slowdown. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . Fisker, the second failed automotive startup founded by car designer Henrik Fisker, is the latest EV upstart to fail. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers.

Persons: Fisker, —, Henrik Fisker Organizations: Service, Business

☆ Elon Musk is sued by another ex-Twitter exec, who says top bosses were 'cheated' out of $200 million in severance
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-18 | by ( Tom Carter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Elon Musk is facing another lawsuit over his turbulent takeover of Twitter. Twitter's former Chief Accounting Officer is suing Musk over $3.75 million in unpaid severance. Earlier this year, four other ex-Twitter senior execs sued Musk over unpaid severance. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementElon Musk's legal battles keep piling up — and now he's facing a lawsuit from another former Twitter executive.

Persons: Elon Musk, Musk, execs, —, Elon, Robert Kaiden, Kaiden Organizations: Twitter, Service, Northern, Court, Business Locations: California

☆ Elon Musk seems pleased that Dubai police are now driving a Cybertruck
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-17 | by ( Tom Carter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Dubai is adding a Cybertruck to its fleet of luxury police vehicles. Elon Musk is thrilled, but the Tesla pickup is unlikely to be chasing down criminals anytime soon. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementDubai has added a Cybertruck to its fleet of luxury police vehicles — much to Elon Musk's satisfaction. Its police force said on X it now had the Tesla as part of its "tourist police" patrol fleet, posting an image of a Cybertruck in green and white livery.

Persons: Elon Musk, Tesla, —, Elon Organizations: Service, Dubai Police General Command Locations: Dubai

☆ Japan can't get enough of tiny vehicles. Here's Honda's latest: a $15,500 miniature EV truck.
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-14 | by ( Tom Carter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Honda has unveiled the N-VAN e, a tiny electric truck costing from $15,500. The diminutive truck is targeted at delivery companies and goes on sale in Japan in October. Japan is famous for its tiny Kei cars, which are ideal for short journeys and city driving. Now, Honda is getting into the tiny EV game. The Japanese automaker has unveiled the N-VAN e, a miniature electric truck that starts at 2.44 million yen ($15,500).

Persons: —, Nissan Organizations: Honda, Service, Kei, Bloomberg Locations: Japan, Tokyo

☆ Tesla appears to be ramping up hiring again
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-11 | by ( Tom Carter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Read previewTesla appears to be ramping up hiring again, nearly two months after Elon Musk kicked off mass layoffs. Tesla then posted over a dozen jobs in the company's autopilot division in late May. Now, however, Tesla appears to have expanded its hiring to cover a variety of roles, with over 60 positions in the US and Canada advertised on the company's website. Advertisement"It sounds like an existing Tesla team from a different department has been inserted to manage the charging division," said Pinter, who added that it was unclear if this move was temporary or permanent. Tesla also lists positions for its internship programs, with roles in vehicle servicing and mechanical design, for example, advertised for the summer and fall of 2024.

Persons: —, Tesla, Elon Musk, Electrek, Musk, Andres Pinter, Pinter Organizations: Service, Elon, North America, Business, Bloomberg, Solutions Locations: Canada, Corpus Christi , Texas

☆ General Motors is using Costco to help it sell more EVs
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-10 | by ( Tom Carter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

General Motors is turning to Costco's Auto Program to help it sell more EVs. An executive told CNBC selling EVs to Costco's 50 million members was a "huge opportunity" for GM. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementGeneral Motors is turning to Costco to help it sell more EVs. GM North America President Marissa West told CNBC she saw a "huge opportunity" to sell EVs to Costco's 50 million-plus US membership base and that GM was exploring new ways to build its partnership with the wholesaler.

Persons: —, Marissa West Organizations: Motors, Auto Program, CNBC, GM, Service, Costco, Detroit, Costco's Auto Program, GM North America, Business

☆ EVs are too expensive. Here are 5 cheaper models coming soon.
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-09 | by ( Tom Carter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Demand for electric vehicles has slowed in recent months amid a lack of cheaper options, and carmakers are now scrambling to develop more affordable EVs. AdvertisementLuckily for these consumers, the next few years should see a range of more affordable electric vehicles released. Here are some other new affordable EV options coming soon:Volvo EX30The Volvo EX30 goes on sale in the US this summer. picture alliance/Getty ImagesGerman automaker VW abandoned plans to build affordable EVs with European rival Renault last month, and is planning to go solo. Elliot Ross Studio, INCRivian founder RJ Scaringe pulled off a Steve Jobs-style "one more thing" when he unveiled two new affordable EVs in March.

Persons: —, John Keeble, Kia EV3, Josh Lefkowitz, Kia, Elliot Ross, RJ Scaringe, Steve Jobs, Tesla, Rivian, Scaringe Organizations: Service, Business, Ford, Nissan, Volvo, Reuters, Kia, Hyundai, EV, BI, Getty, GM, Equinox, US, VW, Volkswagen, Renault, Elliot Ross Studio, INC Rivian, Tesla Locations: Edmunds, Korean, Korea, Europe, Anadolu

☆ Billionaire Tesla shareholder Ron Baron says he supports Elon Musk's $56 billion pay package
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-05 | by ( Tom Carter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Tesla shareholder Ron Baron has backed Elon Musk's $56 billion pay package. The investor said that without Musk, there would be "no Tesla" in an open letter. Tesla is battling to win over shareholders and ratify Musk's 2018 compensation plan. AdvertisementTesla shareholder Ron Baron has backed Elon Musk's $56 billion pay package ahead of a crucial shareholder vote. Baron said that Musk had met the "aggressive" performance metrics in the original compensation deal and that Musk had "earned his pay."

Persons: Ron Baron, Elon, Tesla, —, Musk's, Baron, Musk Organizations: Elon Musk's, Service, Baron Capital Locations: Delaware

☆ Elon Musk, who famously vowed to 'own no house,' reportedly considered buying a tiny home that can cost around $400,000
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-05 | by ( Tom Carter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

download the appSign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. Read previewElon Musk, who famously vowed to "own no house" in 2020 and claimed in 2022 that he was effectively homeless and couch surfing at his friend's properties, reportedly discussed buying a tiny house from one of Tesla's board directors, per Reuters. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. A Samara backyard one-bedroom prefabricated house starts at $284,000. Elon Musk, Tesla, and Samara did not immediately respond to a request for comment made outside normal working hours.

Persons: —, Elon Musk, Joe Gebbia, Gebbia, Samara, Grimes, Musk Organizations: Service, Reuters, Business, SpaceX Locations: Samara, Delaware, Austin, Airbnb, Mexico

☆ These are the states where it may be hardest to buy an EV
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-05 | by ( Tom Carter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Buying an EV may be more difficult in some states than others. Dealers in some rural states have limited supplies of electric cars, data from CarGurus has shown. The data included EVs in dealerships, but not those sold directly to customers, like Teslas. AdvertisementBuying an EV is more difficult in some states than others, new data has suggested. Data from car-listing platform CarGurus shows that over one-third of new electric vehicles are going to California, Texas, and Florida.

Persons: — Organizations: Dealers, Service Locations: CarGurus, California , Texas, Florida

☆ MrBeast becomes YouTube's most subscribed channel
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-03 | by ( Tom Carter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Read previewMr Beast has finally taken the crown of YouTube's most subscribed channel. Jimmy Donaldson, who runs the channel famous for its elaborate challenges and extravagant giveaways, posted on X that MrBeast had reached over 266 million subscribers, passing the popular Indian music channel T-Series. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Business Insider contacted YouTube for comment but didn't immediately hear back. Donaldson later sued the company behind the MrBeast Burger chain, claiming that their "terrible quality" burgers were damaging his brand.

Persons: —, Jimmy Donaldson, MrBeast, didn't, Pewdiepie, YouTuber Felix Kjellberg, Donaldson, Burger Organizations: Service, Business, YouTube, Amazon, Amazon Prime, Time Magazine

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