tesla model y

The rear bumper of a Tesla Model 3 was torn off during a storm in Florida earlier this month, once again bringing the build quality of the US-made electric vehicles under scrutiny. Logan Derouanna, who owns the damaged vehicle, told carscoops.com he was decelerating while attempting to change lanes – in heavy rain – when he heard a “huge noise,” and eventually discovered the rear bumper had torn loose, possibly from a build-up of water.

Tesla has bucked the trend of falling sales amid the coronavirus pandemic, logging their biggest-ever first-quarter on record. While also logging 103,000 builds in the first three months of 2020, Tesla has reported 88,400 deliveries in the same quarter. This marks a 43 per cent increase compared to 2019 figures. Tesla broke the sales down, with new Model 3 and Model Y accounting for 76,200 deliveries, while the older and more expensive Model S and Model X made up the remaining 12,200.

Tesla's vehicles may be of the zero-emission variety, but, like all cars, their production can have an impact on the environment. Reuters reports some local residents who live near the site of the company’s planned German factory are protesting over concerns it will impact their water supply. Tesla announced last November it would build its first European car factory in Grünheide, in the eastern state of Brandenburg.

Fisker, the car company founded by designer Henrik Fisker, has released a teaser image of an affordable all-electric crossover to be revealed later this year. Said to feature a "futuristic, elegant muscular look", the new electric SUV has a prominent lower grille and a glass plate for the radar system where a traditional upper grille would normally reside.

Tesla has confirmed a launch date for the latest addition to its pure-electric range, with Elon Musk announcing the Model Y SUV will be launched in Los Angeles on March 14, California time. Elon Musk, Tesla CEO, made the announcement over his favourite medium, Twitter. He also confirmed the vehicle will be an SUV "about 10 per cent bigger than Model 3, so will cost about 10 per cent more and have slightly less range for same battery".