Tesla issued a new recall on a fleet of almost 700,000 vehicles, but fortunately, the fix is a simple over-the-air software update.
For years, Tesla fans have been complaining about the automaker being in the headlines for “recalls” that were only about software.
They claimed that the media unfairly used the recalls to make Tesla look bad when the fix were as simple as an over-the-air software update, which was often already pushed by the time the recall was announced.
Some have been pushing for a different name for such a recall, despite being very much the same thing as a hardware recall other than the fact that you don’t have to bring your vehicle to a service center physically.
It looks like NHTSA has been listening. While they are not changing the nomenclature, they are now making an effort to distinguish physical and software recalls:
I’ve just noticed the new “software update repairs recall” mention with this new recall affecting almost 700,000 Tesla vehicles today.
The recall has to do with the tire pressure monitoring system.
Tesla explains in the recall notice:
On affected vehicles, upon detection of a malfunction with the tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS), the TPMS malfunction telltale does not persist between drive cycles where the vehicle is off or asleep between the drive cycles, which does not comply with FMVSS 138, S4.4(b)(3).
The affected vehicles include
Model 3: Model Year 2017-2025
Model Y: Model Year 2020-2025
Cybertruck: Model Year 2024
Again, the fix is a software update, which is already being pushed to the fleet.
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In the Electrek Podcast, we discuss the most popular news in the world of sustainable transport and energy. In this week’s episode, we discuss Tesla’s issues self-driving computer failure, Cybertruck is also having some problem, Honda/Nissan merger, and more.
As a reminder, we’ll have an accompanying post, like this one, on the site with an embedded link to the live stream. Head to the YouTube channel to get your questions and comments in.
After the show ends at around 5 p.m. ET, the video will be archived on YouTube and the audio on all your favorite podcast apps:
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Here are a few of the articles that we will discuss during the podcast:
Here’s the live stream for today’s episode starting at 4:00 p.m. ET (or the video after 5 p.m. ET):
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Subaru’s electric SUV is significantly cheaper for the 2025 model year. Starting at under $39,000, the 2025 Subaru Solterra is up to $7,000 less than the 2024 model.
Subaru reveals 2025 Solterra price and range
Subaru announced prices for the new 2025 Solterra electric SUV start at just $38,495. That’s a massive $6,500 price cut from the 2024 model year.
The 2025 model is available in the same Premium, Limited, and Touring trims. However, Subaru added a new blacked-out Touring Onyx Edition.
Starting at $45,495, the new Touring Onyx trim gains 10″ aluminum-alloy gloss black wheels, black exterior and interior design elements, and new black badging. Other trims, including the 2025 Subaru Solterra Touring, are much lower priced.
The Limited trim now starts at $41,995, which is $6,500 less than the outgoing model, while the Touring model gets a $7,000 price cut, starting at just $44,995.
All Solterra models feature Subaru’s Symmetrical AWD system for added traction and control. With Dual-Function X-Mode, you can select between Snow/Dirt and Snow/Mud modes for even more traction off-road with features like Grip Control and Downhill Assist.
The electric SUV also features “best-in-class” 8.3″ of ground clearance. For on-road performance, Active Cornering Assist and Vehicle Stability Control are standard.
Inside, the Solterra includes a 12.3″ infotainment screen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support. Higher trim options include a wireless phone charger.
The powertrain remains unchanged for 2025, with a 72.8 kWh battery providing 227 miles range for the base Premium Solterra. Meanwhile, the Limited, Touring, and new Touring Onyx trims have an EPA-estimated range of 222 miles.
2025 Subaru Solterra trim
Starting Price (MSRP)
MSRP plus Destination and Delivery ($1,420)*
Driving Range (EPA-est miles)
Solterra Premium
$38,495
$39,915
227
Solterra Limited
$41,995
$43,415
222
Solterra Touring
$44,995
$46,415
222
Solterra Touring Onyx Edition
$45,495
$46,915
222
2025 Subaru Solterra prices by trim (*Destination & Delivery is $1,420 for Solterra and may vary in the following states: CT, HI, MA, ME, NH, NJ, NY, RI, and VT. D&D is $1,570 for retailers in Alaska)
Subaru’s new blacked-out Onyx edition follows Toyota’s, which added a stealthy new “Nightshade” trim. Toyota also lowered 2025 bZ4X prices by $6,000.
With the 2025 models arriving, Subaru is offering close-out prices on 2024 models, with leases starting as low as $279 per month. Ready to try it out for yourself? You can use our link to view Subaru Solterra models at a dealer near you today.
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Velotric offers $700 price cut on its jack-of-all-trades Go 1 Utility e-bike at new $999 low through the weekend
Velotric is having a holiday flash sale that is running alongside its ongoing December holiday sale through December 22, giving you increased savings on its Go 1 Utility e-bike at $999 shipped. This model usually cruises into view with a $1,699 price tag after falling from its original $1,799 MSRP earlier in the year, with most sales usually taking things to $1,299 (including for Black Friday/Cyber Monday), though we did spy it once at $1,249 at the end of summer. Today, you’re looking at a bigger markdown than ever before, as $700 is struck from the costs to give you a new all-time low.
Velotric’s Go 1 e-bike is a well-rounded, jack-of-all-trades model that is built keeping versatile utility in mind, making it a great option for folks who want more than just a commuter – especially at this new low price. It provides a 55-mile travel range on a single charge of its 692Wh battery and sports a 440-pound total payload capacity, carrying larger/heavier riders or plenty of cargo. The 500W hub motor (900W peak) tops out normally at 20 MPH speeds, but you can unlock higher speeds up to 25 MPH.
Riders will be supported by five levels of pedal assistance alongside some solid features to heighten the riding experience, headlined by the Apple Find My inclusion that comes alongside the smartphone app integration. There’s also the hydraulic suspension (with lock-out), hydraulic disc brakes, puncture-resistant tires, a 7-speed Shimano derailleur, the integrated LED headlight, a rear rack with an integrated taillight that delivers brake lighting, a removable thumb throttle, and a 3.5-inch LCD display that sports a USB port to charge your devices on the go.
To check out the full lineup of Velotric’s current Holiday e-bike deals, head to our original coverage here.
Gotrax’s GXL V2 electric scooter helps with short-distance commutes at new $244 low
Amazon is offering the Gotrax GXL V2 Electric Scooter for $244 shipped. Normally going for $350 since hitting the market back in September, we’ve only seen one previous discount back during Black Friday and Cyber Monday that took costs down to $280. That rate is beaten out here today as it’s getting 30% slashed off its usual going rate, saving you $106 and marking a new all-time low. You’ll also find it matching in price directly from Gotrax.
The Gotrax GXL V2 electric scooter makes a great short-distance commuter for college students on a budget or even as a first-time ride for teens or kids – plus, at the time of writing this, it can make it to you ahead of Christmas. Coming equipped with a 250W motor (peaking at 400W), this budget-friendly model can hit top speeds of 15.5 MPH with its 187.2Wh battery providing a humble 9 miles of travel on a single charge – plenty of juice to cruise around campus or allow your kids mobility around the neighborhood. It comes stocked with 8.5-inch pneumatic air-filled tires to help absorb road shocks as you ride, with the whole thing only weighing in at 26 pounds. Of course, as is the case with most e-scooters, it can fold to conserve space when not in use.
Other Gotrax Amazon e-scooter discounts:
Gotrax Amazon e-bike discounts:
Rad Power’s final phase of Christmas savings keeps RadExpand 5 e-bike at $1,299 while adding new models
Rad Power has switched into the final phase of its Christmas sales through January 2 with up to $300 discounts on two e-bikes along with some additional free gear promotions for its newest lineup of models. Leading the group with the biggest savings for the rest of the year is the RadExpand 5 Folding e-bike which has remained at $1,299 shipped. Carrying a full price of $1,599 outside of these sales, we’ve been regularly seeing it drop to $1,299 when getting discounts, with a few others bringing things lower to $1,249, and one sale in October hitting the $1,199 low. You’ll be saving $300 here today at the third-lowest price we have tracked.
The RadExpand 5 is Rad Power’s most popular storage-saving commuter solution that comes with a folding frame to condense its size to a more manageable one to better fit in tighter spaces, closets, car trunks, RVs, and more. It provides you with a 20 MPH top speed with up to 45+ miles of travel courtesy of the pairing between the 750W brushless geared hub motor and a 672Wh battery. There are four low-profile cadence-sensing PAS levels here that help you get the most out of its mileage, or you can use the throttle for all-electric riding at a decreased range.
Among its additional features, you’ll have a 7-speed MicroShift derailleur, a standard LED headlight alongside an integrated taillight that offers brake light functionality, both of which automatically activate when daylight drops low enough. You’ll also get some cargo-hauling support from the integrated rear rack with a 55-pound limit, as well as fenders to go over both wheels, a water-resistant wiring harness, and an LED display.
More Rad Power Christmas sale final phase e-bike discounts:
For today only add Greenworks’ 80V 20-inch cordless electric snow blower to your winter arsenal at $300
As part of its 25 Days of Deals, Best Buy is offering folks in snow-falling areas an affordable chance to score the Greenworks 80V 20-inch Cordless Snow Blower with a 4.0Ah Battery for $299.99 shipped. Normally sitting at $450 most of the time, this particular package with the 4.0Ah battery hasn’t seen much by way of discounts, with the biggest of them dropping costs to this same rate last month in a similar one-day sale. You can add it to your winter arsenal today with a 33% markdown that strikes $150 off the tag, returning it to the second-lowest rate we have seen – just $1 above the all-time low from 2023.
At the moment you’d be hard pressed to find this same combo elsewhere at such a low rate, as Greenworks is offering the snow blower alone at $400, with prices increasing for either a 2.0Ah or 5.0Ah battery, while Amazon only has it with a 2.0Ah battery for $375 or the upgraded 22-inch model for $560.
If you scoop up this snow-blowing package from Greenworks today, you’ll have everything you need to clear out a 4-car driveway on a single 40-minute charge (the battery comes with a rapid charger FYI). It clears a 20-inch wide path with a depth of up to 10 inches and sports a 180-degree rotating chute that throws the conquered snow up to 20 feet out of your pathways. Don’t worry about heavier snow or ice, as its auger-assist system combats it quite well, as long as you don’t let it get packed down too tightly. Its also been crowned with LED headlights for better visibility in darker hours, alongside a foldable design for easier times storing and transporting it.
The savings this week are also continuing to a collection of other markdowns. To the same tune as the offers above, these all help you take a more energy-conscious approach to your routine. Winter means you can lock in even better off-season price cuts on electric tools for the lawn while saving on EVs and tons of other gear.