#ev-competition

#ev-competition

Late last month, new "Epstein files" from the Department of Justice revealed that Tesla CEO Elon Musk was in regular correspondence with deceased sex criminal Jeffrey Epstein, going as far as to invite himself to his notorious Caribbean island, asking when the "wildest party" would take place in a 2012 email. It was a damning contradiction of Musk's previous claims that he'd "refused" Epstein's offer, and they seemed to throw the billionaire into a tailspin.

Since then, the Model Y has fended off challenges from major automakers like Ford, Chevrolet, Hyundai, and Kia to become one of the top-selling vehicles in the world. Tesla sold nearly 1.8 million vehicles last year, and the automaker has an ambitious target of 20-30% sales growth this year.

The Model Y L, which adds new features including a rear row of foldable seats and powered armrests, went on sale for $47,200 in China on Tuesday. Its launch comes as Tesla battles fierce competition from local EV players like BYD, Xiaomi, and Xpeng. Electric vehicle adoption in China is far higher than in the US, and Chinese companies have rapidly taken market share with a wave of affordable electric models packed with high-tech features, including autonomous driving and voice controls.