Tesla Model 3 owners join in filming for proposed Netflix documentary

Tesla Model 3 owners participated in a filming of a documentary series about Tampa Bay, Florida that will reportedly be distributed on Netflix for Super Bowl 2021.

Tesla Model 3 owner and Redditor blainestang volunteered for the project and shared his experience about filming on a closed and empty Lee Roy Selmon Expressway on Tuesday.

“There were 9 Model 3s there for a 3×3 caravan of ‘autonomous’ Model 3s. It was filmed by drone and camera truck with boom camera. Officially, the shoot was for an upcoming documentary about the future of transportation in Tampa. Unofficially, it seems like a pretty big production for that, but maybe these guys just go big, and it was fun to be a part of,” blainestang wrote.

Tesla Model 3 for Diamond View Future of Transportation Documentary in Tampa Bay, Florida (Source: Film Tampa Bay | Twitter)

According to blainestang, it is not clear if Tesla was involved in the project but the participants were volunteers purportedly members of the Facebook group Tampa Bay Tesla Club, on which the production company posted to call for participants.

“Hi Tampa Bay Tesla owners, Diamond View is looking for Tesla Model 3 owners that are interested in participating in an upcoming documentary on the future of transportation. We are seeking participants in the Tampa Bay area who are available on Tuesday March 3rd from 11am – 1pm,” the production company wrote.

Film Tampa Bay, a digital media commission that markets the Tampa Bay region as a premier filming destination, also posted about the filming on the major thoroughfare.

In an interview back in 2018, Diamond View Studios CEO Tim Moore shared some details about the project. The said documentary is a three- to five-year passion project called “Building Tampa” that covers politics, new developments, arts, culture, and more.

“We are at the inflection point of a city that is about to be reborn. My thought was, instead of waiting until that point and being reactive, doing interviews about what had happened. We’re getting the inside scoop on this now,” Moore said.

The said docuseries will feature 45-minute episodes that will put the spotlight on Tampa, which will host Super Bowl LV on Feb. 7, 2021 at the James Stadium.

Tampa was listed in 2018 as one of the smart cities to watch by technology site StateScoop. The city received a grant of $21 million from the Department of Transportation for a pilot project that seeks to launch a fleet of connected cars for 1,600 residents. Back in 2017, the Tampa-Hillsborough Expressway Authority (THEA) also closed a section of the Lee Roy Selmon Expressway’s Reversible Express Lanes to do test rides in vehicles that communicate with other vehicles and other infrastructure nearby using a wireless technology called Dedicated Short Range Communications that work similarly to Wi-Fi.

Tesla Model 3 owners join in filming for proposed Netflix documentary

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Tesla Model 3’s success in Europe was a sucker punch to German automakers

The Tesla Model 3’s success in the European market shocked the region’s biggest automakers, including Volkswagen and Mercedes-Benz. This was despite successful car manufacturers practically writing off Tesla because of its cash flow, production inexperience, and negative outlooks from several hedge funds.

As it turned out, the problem with dismissing Tesla as “the next big thing” is because the Silicon Valley-bred company, through its innovative and unique vehicles, has truly become the hottest company in the car industry. The Model 3 is a big part of that because of its affordability, dispelling the idea that electric cars with sufficient range and high performance are not mainstream cars.

The Model 3’s popularity in Europe was proven after a successful 2019. In December only the Volkswagen Golf and Renault Clio had higher sales figures. This is according to JATO Dynamics, a company that performs market research.

But the popularity of the Model 3 means something other than electric cars is becoming more appealing to consumers. It means automakers that have had success with petrol-powered models, like Volkswagen and Mercedes Benz, may be missing out on a huge opportunity to transition their offerings towards sustainability.

Europe’s biggest luxury carmakers waited long to begin developing cars that could compete with Tesla, and now the companies are lagging behind. The Model 3 already competes with best-selling petrol-powered premium sedans like the Mercedes C-Class or BMW 3 Series in price, despite being far more tech-focused.

Granted, European carmakers have started their own electric car programs. Both Volkswagen and Mercedes are beginning to build electric cars, but they only began developing EVs after Tesla proved that electric cars can be successful and popular among buyers. This leaves them several years behind Tesla, which holds a sizable lead over other carmakers in range, performance, and affordability.

Tesla’s vehicles are improving in performance and range through over-the-air software updates that allow owners to upgrade their cars through the internet, similar to a smartphone.

In addition to being years behind in terms of hardware and software, Volkswagen and Mercedes are making electric versions of cars that they have been building for years. This disqualifies the vehicles from being potential “game-changers,” according to JATO Dynamics analyst Felipe Munoz in a statement to The New York Times. Tesla’s vehicle designs, on the other hand, are fresh and unique, and Munoz believes this could be one of the reasons the company is doing so well.

The uniqueness Tesla is bringing to the table is precisely the way it will continue to disrupt the European auto market. Its cars offer a new and exciting way to travel, and Munoz says the way Tesla was going to beat traditional automakers was by being different than them. “It’s not only about the car itself. It’s also the way they are selling these cars,” Munoz states.

Tesla Model 3’s success in Europe was a sucker punch to German automakers

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Tesla rolls out “range update” for Model S, Model X to reflect improved efficiency

Tesla has begun to roll out a new “Range Boost” software update to Model S and Model X vehicles to more accurately display the vehicle’s range following recent efficiency updates.

The latest version 2020.4 firmware follows last month’s range increase for Model S and Model X. The Model S is now listed with a range of 390 miles, up from 373 miles, while the Model X has an EPA estimated range of 351 miles from 328 miles.

“Charging to 100% and I’m showing 354 miles. Stopping at 90% is putting me at 316,” noted Tesla owners and Redditor sudogreg.

Twitter user and Model X owner @noctechnolog corroborated the story about the range upgrade and shared a snapshot of his vehicle’s available range.

The latest over-the-air update does not come as a surprise as Tesla CEO Elon Musk hinted that the range update for Model S and Model X vehicles would see an adjustment to reflect efficiency improvements being made.

“Software just thinks the car is less efficient than it actually is,” Musk further explained. He also mentioned that there have been several hardware improvements introduced to the vehicles in the past months.

While this recent update is more visual, giving the newer Model S and Model X a more accurate range displayed on the user interface, it’s important to take note of how Tesla can easily tweak the efficiency and performance of its vehicles via over-the-air (OTA) software updates. Such updates practically make its vehicles so much better as they age and clearly show its lead over legacy carmakers and their attempts to catch up with Tesla’s software and battery technologies.

On Monday, Tesla also started offering an Infotainment Upgrade for older Model S and Model X owners who are still on the first-generation Media Control Unit (MCU1). The $2,500-upgrade will equip the vehicle with newer MCU2 hardware and enable access to Netflix, YouTube, additional video streaming apps, and more Tesla Arcade games.

Tesla rolls out “range update” for Model S, Model X to reflect improved efficiency

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