Our 2026 Predictions | Tesla Motors Club Podcast #77
About this episode
Doug shares a 24-hour Model S test drive and a long road trip using Supercharging and FSD, praising low cognitive load but noting occasional missed turns and quirks with parking and accessibility stalls. They compare hardware 3 vs hardware 4 behavior, discuss FSD “strikes,” and debate whether Tesla will upgrade older hardware. The group then grades 2025 predictions and lays out 2026 bets: Model Y staying #1 (they say no), Cybertruck sales and whether it gets canceled (split), Roadster (no), stalk/camera retrofits (yes), Robotaxi timing (likely 2026/2027 with a safety driver longer), and Optimus delivery (they doubt it). They also revisit space plans, arguing SLS likely survives past Artemis II due to budget and jobs.
In this episode of the Tesla Motors Club Podcast, hosts Lewis, Doug, and Mike reflect on their 2025 predictions and make new ones for 2026. Topics include: the future of the Cybertruck, FSD transfers and upgrades, Robotaxi progress, Tesla possibly building a chip fab, SpaceX, the Artemis program, and more!
Show notes and comments
Live version on YouTube
Visit our website at https://teslamotorsclub.com/
Chapters:
00:00 Intro
01:17 Louis's first FSD roadtrip
06:20 Doug's 24 hour Model S test drive
13:53 Predictions
14:02 Q: Will another vehicle dethrone the Model Y as the world's bestselling car?
14:40 Q: Was the Model Y the best selling vehicle worldwide in 2025?
17:03 Q: Will the Model Y be the best selling vehicle in 2026?
17:33 Q: How many Cybertrucks will be on the road?
19:31 Q: Will Tesla Cancel the Cybertruck?
22:19 Q: Will Tesla deliver the Next Gen Roadster?
26:37 Q: Will Tesla add the Turn Signal Stalk or Front camera on S, 3, and X?
29:10 Q: Will Tesla unveil a brand new model?
32:18 How to redeem the Cybertruck
35:40 Q: Will Tesla Offer FSD transfers?
38:52 Q: Will Tesla offer an upgrade path for HW3 owners?
41:05 Terafactory Chip Fab
47:04 Q: When will Tesla start offering a Robotaxi service?
49:25 Doug's experience with Waymo in San Francisco
51:09 Q: Will the Robotaxi safety supervisor go away in 2026?
52:57 Q: Will we see FSD drive coast to coast?
57:19 Q: Will a competing humanoid robot company beat Optimus to market?
58:00 Q: Will Tesla start Optimus deliveries in 2026?
01:04:52 Q: Will Tesla get a publicly facing COO?
01:05:49 Q: Will SLS survive past Artemis II?
01:11:02 Outro
Co-hosts-
Louis: @nebusoft
Mike: @SteelClouds
Doug: @doug
Producers-
Daniel: @danny
Doug: @doug
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Tesla Model S
"...g to go over Doug's 24-hour test drive of the new Model S. We'll review our 2025 predictions to see how we ..."
Tesla Model Y
"...another vehicle, Tesla or otherwise, dethrone the model Y as the world's best-selling car. So we first aske..."
Toyota Corolla
"...did the show last year, it looked like the Toyota Corolla had outsold the Model Y. It's out slightly."
Toyota Rav 4
"... What I saw from looking things up was it was the RAV 4. Toyota Rav 4 was the third best and now is the f..."
Tesla Cybertruck
".... We toss it in with the X, the X, the S, and the Cybertruck are all bundled together. I don't know what you s..."
Ford F-150 Lightning
"...ational actors do. Ford, they canceled that F-150 Lightning. Yep, they did."
Chevrolet Suburban
"...rs that are getting it. If they made it more of a suburban type, big SEV people mover, soccer mom type thing..."
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