Dylan Loomis of Electrified kicks off the show by thanking new patrons Terry J and Alan J. He emphasizes the upcoming Tesla production and delivery (P&D) report will be heavily scrutinized and potentially misrepresented by critics. He shares a positive anecdote about Matt Van Swole's dad, who, after buying a Tesla, became a huge fan of full self-driving (FSD) and questioned why anyone would own any other car.
Loomis discusses the anecdote game, mentioning reports of overwhelming demand and Tesla purchases from people who wouldn't have considered it without recent events. However, he cautions that Q1's supply limitations, particularly due to the new Model Y's production ramp-up, will make it an inaccurate reflection of Tesla's actual demand. He highlights that 70% of the new Model Y's parts are new, leading to potential supply chain challenges and manufacturing tweaks. He expects publications to focus on politics and brand damage when the Q1 reports release.
The segment moves on to Utopia Homes' "Oaks of Shady Acres" community in Houston, a new eco-friendly neighborhood featuring Tesla solar roofs and Powerwalls. While touting it as the "first of its kind in the nation," Loomis notes similar projects exist, including one in Austin built by Brookfield asset management in the summer of 2024. He expresses a desire to see more such projects and suggests new construction might be the most viable path for meaningful solar roof adoption unless Tesla achieves a cost breakthrough.
Loomis warns of potential Tesla stock volatility, mentioning organized efforts to buy puts, essentially betting against the stock. He explains how a satirical post about shorting Tesla was amplified by Elon Musk, who pointed out that many critics financially benefit from a drop in Tesla's share price. While reassuring long-term investors, he advises short-term traders to prepare for market manipulation and exaggerated price swings. He notes the positive performance in after hours trading and comments on Trump potentially walking back some tariffs as contributing factors.
Loomis dismisses a rumor from Tesla Ming, claiming a 30% FSD subscription rate in the US, citing Weibo as the source. He points out that Tesla doesn't typically report this number, deeming the report unreliable.
He then transitions to Tesla's FSD performance in China, highlighting footage of its successful navigation of complex Chinese streets. He says if Tesla can master the Chinese traffic laws, there is a lot of implications for FSD in other countries. He reports that Tesla's free trial for FSD in China will be paused and Tesla will need prior approval for future OTA updates.
Addressing a report on the most American-made cars, Loomis clarifies that it originated in December. The report ranks Tesla's Model 3, Model Y, and Cybertruck in the top spots. He highlights that Tesla has increased its use of American-made parts from 77% to 81% between 2015 and 2024, while competitors like Stellantis, Ford, and GM have seen declines. He emphasizes that this localization strategy insulates Tesla from trade wars and tariffs.
He shares an interview with Andre Teregg, Gigaberlin's plant manager, who dismisses concerns about the political climate and reaffirms the company's focus on manufacturing great vehicles. Teregg mentions the increased localization of suppliers, with 92% of components now sourced from Europe. He reports that battery production in Grunhaida is being converted to the new Model Y, aiming to resume operations this year.
He shows a quick look at the progress of Tesla's diner. He shares a video of Chris Harris experiencing the WeMO autonomous vehicle. He shares a video of an FSD experience.
He shares the quote of John Krafcik, the former CEO of WeMO and he has not seen Tesla to compete with them.
The conversation highlights the success of the outgoing Model Y. Tesla has also won a contract for megapacks for battery storage.
Loomis discusses Tesla's partnership with EV group to roll out Tesla superchargers under its brand in the US. A new survey from Consumer Reports shares that Tesla's superchargers only have issues 4% of the time compared to the error rates of Shell recharge, EVGO and Blink.
Hyundai has announced a $21 billion investment in on shoring including a $5.8 billion in a steel plant.
Loomis addresses rallies supporting Elon Musk and Tesla and condemns the incendiary devices discovered at a Tesla dealership in Austin.
He reports that California now has more public EV chargers than gas pumps. BYD's net profit for quarter 4 was up 73%.
The FBI has launched a task force specifically for Tesla related violence and vandalism. Canon cord genuity toured Gigah Austin and praised the unboxed manufacturing strategy.
Finally, Loomis closes by stating Tesla stock closed up 11.93%.