The update, which is now appearing on customer vehicles through 2026.2.9.6, introduces a wide range of improvements focused on decision-making, perception, and real-world driving behavior. Early indications suggest Tesla is continuing its shift toward more advanced, human-like reasoning rather than relying strictly on pre-mapped data.

We noticed a new Tesla software update 2026.2.9.6 on Model Y RWD LR (2026) in New York, United States. View the rollout of this update here: https://t.co/54dBLNdyQO

— Teslascope (@teslascope) April 7, 2026

According to the release notes, one of the biggest changes in v14.3 is a complete rewrite of Tesla’s AI compiler and runtime using MLIR (Multi-Level Intermediate Representation), which the company says results in a 20% improvement in reaction time while also accelerating how quickly the system can be iterated and improved. That foundational change supports a broader upgrade to the system’s reinforcement learning (RL) training, allowing the neural network to perform better across a wider range of driving scenarios.

Tesla has also enhanced the vehicle’s vision capabilities, upgrading the neural network encoder to better interpret difficult environments. This includes improved performance in low-visibility conditions, stronger 3D spatial understanding, and expanded recognition of traffic signs.

On the road, the improvements are aimed at refining everyday driving behaviour while also tackling edge cases. Tesla says FSD v14.3 is better at responding to emergency vehicles, school buses, and drivers who violate right-of-way rules. It also reduces issues like unnecessary lane positioning and minor tailgating, two behaviors that have been common points of feedback from users.

The update also leans heavily into rare and unpredictable scenarios. Tesla says the system is now better equipped to handle unusual objects encroaching into the driving path, as well as small animals, thanks to training on more challenging real-world examples sourced from the fleet.

Complex intersections are another focus area, with improved handling of multi-light setups, curved roads, and yellow light decisions. At the same time, Tesla has made the system more resilient, allowing it to maintain control and recover automatically from temporary system degradations, reducing unnecessary disengagements.

Parking behavior has also seen noticeable upgrades. The system is now more decisive when selecting parking spots and maneuvering into them, while a new map-based “P” icon improves how parking locations are displayed and predicted.

While not included in this release, Tesla has outlined several features still in development, including expanding reasoning capabilities beyond navigation tasks, adding pothole avoidance, and improving driver monitoring through more accurate eye-tracking and better performance in varying lighting conditions.

As with all FSD releases, rollout will likely be gradual, first appearing for early testers, and if all goes well, a wider deployment within the next few weeks.

Here are the full 2026.2.9.6 release notes.

Full Self-Driving (Supervised) v14.3

Full Self-Driving (Supervised) v14.3 includes:

• Upgraded the Reinforcement Learning (RL) stage of training the FSD neural network, resulting in improvements in a wide variety of driving scenarios.
• Upgraded the neural network vision encoder, improving understanding in rare and low-visibility scenarios, strengthening 3D geometry understanding, and expanding traffic sign understanding.
• Rewrote the AI compiler and runtime from the ground up with MLIR, resulting in 20% faster reaction time and improving model iteration speed.
• Mitigated unnecessary lane biasing and minor tailgating behaviors.
• Increased decisiveness of parking spot selection and maneuvering.
• Improved parking location pin prediction, now shown on a map with a P icon.
• Enhanced response to emergency vehicles, school buses, right-of-way violators, and other rare vehicles.
• Improved handling of small animals by focusing RL training on harder examples and adding rewards for better proactive safety.
• Improved traffic light handling at complex intersections with compound lights, curved roads, and yellow light stopping — driven by training on hard RL examples sourced from the Tesla fleet.
• Improved handling for rare and unusual objects extending, hanging, or leaning into the vehicle path by sourcing infrequent events from the fleet.
• Improved handling of temporary system degradations by maintaining control and automatically recovering without driver intervention, reducing unnecessary disengagements.

Upcoming Improvements

• Expand reasoning to all behaviors beyond destination handling.
• Add pothole avoidance.
• Improve driver monitoring system sensitivity with better eye gaze tracking, eye wear handling, and higher accuracy in variable lighting conditions.

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According to Germany’s federal motor authority, the Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt (KBA), Tesla registrations jumped 315% year-over-year in March to 9,252 vehicles – the company’s strongest March performance ever in the country. The surge also represents a significant acceleration compared to previous months, with registrations rising more than 300% both month-over-month and compared to December levels.

The strong finish to the quarter helped push Tesla’s Q1 total in Germany to 12,829 units, a 160% increase from the same period last year and the company’s best quarterly result in the country in the past two years. Notably, March alone accounted for roughly 72% of that total, highlighting the typical end-of-quarter delivery push.

Tesla’s performance also translated into meaningful market share gains. In March, the automaker captured 3.1% of all new vehicle registrations in Germany and 13.1% of the battery-electric vehicle (BEV) segment. That comes as the overall German EV market continues to expand, with BEV registrations climbing more than 66% year-over-year during the month.

Germany reported 9,252 Tesla sales and 3.1% market share in March. BEV penetration is 24% and Tesla has 13.1% of this segment.

• Market share is 229 basis points or 267% above the 3-month trailing average of 0.9%
• Best market share since 37 months
• 4th best month ever… pic.twitter.com/Txbz7CK5uq

— Roland Pircher (@piloly) April 7, 2026

Importantly, Germany is not an isolated case. As we previously reported, Tesla has been regaining ground across multiple European markets in recent months. In Norway, Tesla registered 1,210 vehicles in February, a 75.6% increase compared to the same month last year, allowing it to reclaim its position as the country’s best-selling brand. France saw an even more dramatic rebound, with registrations jumping 203% to 9,569 vehicles, just shy of a national record.

Taken together, the latest figures suggest Tesla’s European business is regaining momentum after a turbulent 2025. With strong March results across several key markets and improving product positioning, the company appears to be reestablishing its footing in one of the world’s most competitive EV landscapes.

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The new offer, which runs until April 30, drops the entry-level Residential plan to just $49 per month, down from its regular $70 price. The promotion applies for the first four months of service, after which pricing returns to standard rates.

Alongside the discount, some customers can also get started without paying for hardware upfront.

At the base level, the Residential 100 Mbps plan is positioned as an affordable option for everyday use. With speeds of up to 100 Mbps, it is designed to handle common tasks like streaming, video calls, and general browsing. The promotional $49 price point makes it the most aggressive offering yet from Starlink in Canada.

For households with heavier internet demands, the Residential 200 Mbps plan is now available for $89 per month during the promotional period, reduced from its standard $110 pricing. This tier targets families and multi-device homes, offering faster speeds and more consistent performance for high-bandwidth activities.

At the top end, the Residential Max plan drops to $119 per month from $140. This premium tier provides access to the fastest available speeds—up to 400+ Mbps in select areas—making it Starlink’s best-performing residential option. It also includes an added incentive: customers can opt for a free Starlink Mini Kit, a $400 value, enabling portable connectivity for travel, whether that’s camping, RVing, or boating across more than 150 markets.

This latest move builds on Starlink’s January 2026 overhaul of its Canadian plans, when the company introduced a three-tier structure starting at $70 per month—down from a previous entry price of $110. Now, with this temporary promotion, pricing is dipping even further, bringing satellite internet closer than ever compared to traditional broadband costs.

With no long-term commitment required and reduced upfront costs, this latest offer could entice a new wave of users to give Starlink a try—especially those who were previously priced out when plans started well above $100 per month.

To see if you qualify for the discounted rates, enter your address at Starlink.com/ca.

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According to a report from Reuters, citing sources familiar with the discussions, SpaceX is preparing to launch its IPO roadshow in early June, with executives expected to begin pitching the offering to institutional investors the week of June 8. A day earlier, roughly 125 analysts from more than 20 participating banks will meet with the company, signaling the start of what is expected to be one of the most closely watched public offerings in years.

But unlike most IPOs, SpaceX is taking an unconventional approach. The company plans to allocate an unusually large portion of shares to retail investors, a move rarely seen at this scale.

“Retail is going to be a critical part of this and a bigger part than any IPO in history,” Chief Financial Officer Bret Johnsen reportedly told bankers during a recent meeting. He added that the decision is intentional, noting retail investors “have been incredibly supportive of us and of Elon (Musk) for a long time, and we want to make sure that we recognize that.”

To support that effort, SpaceX is planning a major investor event on June 11 that will host approximately 1,500 retail investors. Participation is expected to extend beyond the United States, with investors in Canada, the U.K., Europe, Australia, Japan, and South Korea also able to take part in the offering.

The IPO itself is expected to raise as much as $75 billion, with a target valuation of up to $1.75 trillion. If achieved, that would place SpaceX among the most valuable companies in the world, alongside tech giants like Apple, Microsoft, and NVIDIA. It would also represent a significant leap from the company’s most recent private valuation of around $800 billion in late 2025, prior to its merger with xAI.

While the final structure of the deal is still being finalized, earlier reports suggest SpaceX could allocate as much as 30% of shares to retail investors—far above the typical 5% to 10% seen in most IPOs. Major financial institutions including Morgan Stanley, Bank of America, JPMorgan, Citigroup, and Goldman Sachs are leading the offering, alongside a broader syndicate of banks handling global distribution.

The company is expected to publicly release its IPO prospectus in late May, giving us a look at share pricing, allocation, and governance structure. A dual-class share structure is anticipated, allowing insiders to retain significant control.

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The announcement was shared by Intel on the social media platform X. “Intel is proud to join the Terafab project with SpaceX, xAI, and Tesla to help refactor silicon fab technology,” the company said. “Our ability to design, fabricate, and package ultra-high-performance chips at scale will help accelerate Terafab’s aim to produce 1 TW/year of compute to power future advances in AI and robotics.”

Tesla later confirmed the partnership, also revealing a new website dedicated to the project – terafab.ai.

A major addition to an ambitious plan

Intel’s involvement could mark a significant turning point for Terafab. While Musk’s original announcement outlined a vertically integrated chip manufacturing facility capable of producing massive volumes of AI chips, the project faced questions around execution given the complexity of semiconductor fabrication and Tesla/SpaceX/xAi’s inexperience in such a field.

Bringing in Intel—one of the few companies in the world with end-to-end chip design and manufacturing expertise—adds immediate credibility to those plans. Unlike many modern chip companies that rely on third-party foundries, Intel operates its own fabrication facilities and has deep experience in packaging and process development.

This partnership brings Musk’s vision for Terafab as an all-in-one facility capable of designing, producing, testing, and iterating on chips in a single location much closer to reality.

What is Terafab?

Terafab is intended to address what Musk sees as a looming shortage of computing power, particularly as Tesla ramps up Full Self-Driving, expands its Optimus humanoid robot program, and supports xAI’s growing infrastructure needs.

The long-term goal is to produce up to one terawatt (TW) of compute annually, a level of output that would require unprecedented chip manufacturing scale. Intel’s expertise in high-performance silicon and advanced packaging could be critical in achieving that target.

In addition to terrestrial applications, Terafab is also expected to power future space infrastructure, including AI-driven satellites and potentially even lunar-based systems. Musk has also pointed to concepts like electromagnetic mass drivers on the Moon, which could rely on advanced computing and automation to enable low-cost launches from the lunar surface.

Still early, but momentum is building

Despite the legitimacy of adding an established chipmaker like Intel, many details about Terafab remain unclear, including a construction timeline and final investment commitments. Semiconductor fabs typically require tens of billions of dollars and years to bring online.

However, Intel’s decision to join suggests the project is beginning to move beyond concept and into a more structured collaboration.

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According to a post on LinkedIn, Dieter Lorenz, who most recently served as Tesla’s Senior Manager of Delivery Operations for Central Europe, has moved to Xiaomi to take on the role of Head of Delivery & Logistics Europe.

“After 6 years at Tesla, last week marked my final week with the company. I’m grateful for the experiences and the people I had the chance to work with along the way,” Lorenz wrote on LinkedIn.

During his time at Tesla Lorenz worked his way up through multiple operational roles across Germany and Central Europe. His responsibilities expanded steadily over time, eventually overseeing delivery operations across several key markets including Germany, Poland, and the Czech Republic. By late 2024, he was leading delivery operations across Central Europe, making him one of the more experienced logistics leaders in Tesla’s regional structure.

Importantly, Lorenz may not be the only Tesla veteran making the jump. According to Electrek, Xiaomi has also hired at least one other former Tesla operations employee in Europe, Marvin M, who left the company in March according to his LinkedIn profile. The moves suggest a targeted effort to recruit talent with experience scaling EV deliveries across complex, multi-country markets.

The hiring aligns with Xiaomi’s plans to expand into Europe, which is scheduled to begin in 2027. The company has already laid some groundwork, including opening a European Research and Design Centre in Munich in 2025.

For Tesla, the loss of experienced operational talent comes amidst a string of recent high profile exits from the company. As we reported last month, two key employees in the Cybercab program, Mark Lupkey and Victor Nechita, have both left the company, while Tesla’s customer experience leader now works at a cryptocurrency firm.

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According to an update to the online configurator, the Model 3 Performance now comes standard with 20″ Warp Wheels, along with a new “Select Tires” option that lets customers pick either All-Season Tires or Summer Tires before delivery.

Customers opting for the Summer Tires get a slightly lower range of 304 miles (489 km), compared to the All-Season Tires which deliver an estimated range of 309 miles (497 km).

The change may seem minor at first glance, but it addresses a long-standing frustration among buyers, particularly those in colder climates.

Until now, Tesla’s approach to tires has often been inconsistent and, at times, unpredictable. Customers would frequently receive whatever tire type happened to be available at the factory, regardless of their location or the season. This led to situations where buyers in Canada and the northern United States took delivery of high-performance vehicles equipped with summer tires just as temperatures were dropping—forcing them to immediately invest in a second set of wheels and tires.

Tesla has previously justified these shifts by saying it was aiming to “provide the best tires for…customers for the current season.” However, that strategy didn’t always align with delivery timing. In some cases, transitions between summer and all-season tires occurred too late, leaving owners to deal with winter conditions without the appropriate setup.

With the Model 3 Performance now offering a choice upfront, Tesla appears to be taking a more customer-focused approach. Buyers can prioritize maximum performance with summer tires or opt for greater versatility and convenience with all-season tires, depending on their driving conditions.

There are trade-offs, of course. Summer tires typically provide better grip, handling, and overall performance, especially in warm weather. All-season tires, on the other hand, offer improved range and comfort in some cases, along with the ability to handle a wider range of temperatures. And as noted above, the choice also impacts range.

However, as always, drivers in regions with heavy snow and ice are still recommended to have a dedicated set of winter tires for safety.

This new option is limited to the Model 3 Performance, at least for now. The same option is not currently available on the Model Y Performance, which currently comes with All-Season Tires according to the configurator.

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According to the filings, first shared on the Rivian Forums, the 2027 Rivian R2 Performance trim with dual motors and all-wheel drive achieves an EPA-rated range of 335 miles (539 km) when equipped with 21-inch wheels. That figure comes in slightly higher than Rivian’s previously stated 330 mile (531 km) estimate, giving the new model an early win before it even reaches customer driveways.

Opting for the 20-inch all-terrain wheels, while smaller, drops the range slightly due to the more rugged setup, but it still achieves a respectable 314 miles (505 km).

Efficiency figures from the EPA testing offer further insight into how the R2 performs in real-world conditions. Models equipped with 21-inch wheels deliver an impressive 4.62 mi/kWh in city driving and 3.89 mi/kWh (7.43 km/kWh and 6.26 km/kWh) on the highway.

Switching to 20-inch all-terrain tires results in only a minor drop—around 4% on the highway and roughly 1% in the city.

Under the floor, the R2 is powered by a “Large” battery pack with a usable capacity of 86.8 kWh. Interestingly, EPA testing indicates total energy usage closer to 88.7 kWh, suggesting there may be a small buffer beyond the displayed 0% state of charge. Data shows the vehicle supports DC fast charging speeds of up to 210 kW, putting it in line with Rivian’s larger R1T and R1S.

Beyond the raw specs, the documents also reveal Rivian is introducing several behind-the-scenes improvements. The R2 will launch with a redesigned heat pump system aimed at improving thermal efficiency, particularly in colder climates. The updated system integrates multiple components into a more compact package and is expected to enhance cabin heating performance while reducing energy consumption.

Rivian is also planning for the full lifecycle of the battery pack. New software will include built-in battery health monitoring, while the company is developing a structured approach to second-life applications and recycling. Components that meet performance standards may be repurposed for energy storage, while others will be processed through approved recycling channels.

The R2 is expected to begin employee deliveries within the next few weeks, a common step for automakers—including Tesla—when launching a new vehicle. Broader customer deliveries are anticipated to follow later this summer, though initially limited to the U.S.

Canadian customers will have to wait until sometime in 2027 before they can get their hands on the R2.

You can read the full EPA certification docs below.

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According to a post from the official Tesla Charging account on X, the location has been expanded to include 28 new stalls, bringing the total number of stalls at the site to 48 stalls, and more importantly, Tesla’s global stall count to more than 80,000. Along with the landmark stall, the site was also improved with new on-site solar canopies and restroom facilities.

New Tesla Supercharger Expansion: Saint-Saturnin, France expanded with 28 stalls, solar and restrooms. (48 stalls) https://t.co/CLuVpMqBuh pic.twitter.com/LaXyo4vl2y

— Tesla Charging (@TeslaCharging) April 3, 2026

What makes this milestone particularly notable is the speed at which Tesla is adding new stalls. The company reached 60,000 Supercharger stalls globally in October 2024, and then surpassed 70,000 in June 2025. Now, less than a year later, it has added another 10,000 stalls to hit 80,000.

That timeline shows a clear acceleration. It took Tesla roughly eight months to grow from 60,000 to 70,000 stalls, and then nine months to jump from 70,000 to 80,000. In total, the company has added 20,000 stalls in about 17 months—an impressive pace that was highlighted in a graph showing the accelerating pace of deployments over recent years.

According to the graph, Tesla took six years to reach its first 10,000 stalls in 2018. By 2021, that number had climbed to 30,000, before doubling to 60,000 by late 2024. The latest figures show that growth is no longer linear—it’s accelerating as EV adoption expands globally.

A major factor behind this surge is Tesla’s decision to open its Supercharger network to non-Tesla vehicles. With the North American Charging Standard (NACS) now the de-facto standard across the auto industry, Tesla’s charging infrastructure is increasingly being used by other automakers, driving the need for larger stations and faster rollout timelines.

Tesla is also continuing to deploy its latest V4 Supercharger hardware. While current peak charging speeds on V3 posts and V3 cabinets remain around 250 kW, the newer V4 units feature longer cables and improved compatibility with a wider range of vehicles, and when paired with V4 cabinets, charging speeds are doubled and can peak at 500 kW.

The company recently announced it had built its last V3 cabinet at Giga New York, meaning the deployment of “true” V4 stations with both V4 posts and V4 cabinets should accelerate. Currently there are only 5 such stations in the U.S.

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The achievement comes after what was, by most accounts, a disappointing Q1 for Tesla as sales came in below analyst expectations, but it was still enough to come out on top.

Tesla is back on top of the global electric vehicle (EV) market, overtaking China’s BYD and reclaiming its title as the world’s largest battery electric vehicle (BEV) seller in the first quarter of 2026. While Tesla’s Q1 deliveries fell short of analyst expectations, the automaker still did enough to retake the lead.

As we reported last week, Tesla delivered 358,023 vehicles between January and March, a 6.5% increase compared to the same period last year. That modest growth proved enough to push Tesla ahead of BYD, which reported 310,389 BEV sales during the same quarter. While Tesla’s decline was larger than expected, it paled in comparison to BYD, which saw its Q1 sales drop 25.5% year-over-year.

Interestingly, it was China that played a crucial role in shaping the outcome between Tesla and BYD in the first quarter. Tesla delivered more than 213,000 vehicles from Giga Shanghai during the period, accounting for nearly 60% of its global volume. That strong performance helped offset weakness elsewhere and ultimately gave Tesla the edge in the global sales race.

For BYD, however, the story was quite different. The company held a clear lead over Tesla in global BEV sales in 2025, reporting 2.25 million deliveries compared to Tesla’s 1.64 million. That lead proved short-lived, however, as BYD’s heavier reliance on its domestic market left it more exposed to shifting policies in China, including reduced subsidies and the introduction of a new vehicle purchase tax, ultimately allowing Tesla to pull ahead.

While it is a good start, it is just that and only one quarter. The question now is whether Tesla can sustain this momentum through the rest of the year and finish 2026 still ahead of BYD.

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