Tesla Is the Most Popular Car Worldwide. View the Breakdown by Country and U.S. State

According to a study, Tesla is the most sought-after car in the world. AutoTrader UK reveals that Tesla has claimed the top spot as the most Googled car for sale in a whopping 39 countries.

AutoTrader’s Study: A Triumph for Tesla & Jeep

From the vast expanse of the United States to the scenic landscapes of Scandinavia, Tesla has captured the hearts and minds of people in various corners of the world. Here at home, Tesla reigns supreme as the most searched-for car brand in 25 out of the 50 states.

Perhaps the surprising news will come in the other rankings. Jeep is the second most wanted vehicle in the world and the United States. The brand best known for its off-road toughness – although it’s more likely most are pavement princesses, was the big search item in 27 countries and 21 states. It was the second most searched car globally.

While Tesla steals the global spotlight, other car brands can’t help but rev their engines in admiration. BMW, the renowned German engineering marvel, claims the runner-up position, dominating the hearts of car enthusiasts in 20 countries. The United Kingdom, known for its love affair with all things BMW, proudly joins the list of nations seeking the ultimate driving experience. Coming in third was Toyota and Mercedes-Benz rounds out the top five.

Global Icons: Supercars Still Hold a Place in World’s Heart

Despite the rush towards electric, the allure of the supercar brands Lamborghini and Ferrari still has some power, surging into the world’s top 10. These iconic brands and powerful beasts consistently captivate enthusiasts and collectors worldwide. Tesla’s lead designer Franz von Holzhausen grew up with posters of these brands on his wall. Ferrari reigns supreme in its homeland of Italy and five other countries, while Lamborghini roars triumphantly in the hearts of those in the Cayman Islands and seven other countries.

As the world continues to shift towards sustainable transportation, Tesla has carved out a special place in the hearts of car enthusiasts everywhere. With their eye-catching designs, groundbreaking technology, and unwavering commitment to a greener future, Tesla has taken the automotive world by storm.

So, whether you’re a Tesla fan or intrigued by the future of electric vehicles, there’s no denying the allure of these revolutionary cars. Tesla has accelerated into the hearts of car enthusiasts worldwide, showing no signs of slowing down.

A recent video shared on Twitter by Jacob Orth reveals what appears to be a possible prototype of Tesla’s shuttle for The Boring Company at their Las Vegas headquarters.

The short, nine-second clip is a quick walkaround of the prototype. Notably, the minibus has seats on each side of the vehicle and a Model 3-styled steering wheel. According to Inside EVs, there have been rumors of Tesla building a prototype for The Boring Company.

The people-mover/minibus project was first mentioned in CEO Elon Musk’s “Tesla Master Plan Part 2” back in 2016. In it, Musk outlined new sectors of transportation Tesla was working to electrify.

“In addition to consumer vehicles, there are two other types of electric vehicle needed: heavy-duty trucks and high passenger-density urban transport,” Musk wrote. “Both are in the early stages of development at Tesla and should be ready for unveiling next year. We believe the Tesla Semi will deliver a substantial reduction in the cost of cargo transport while increasing safety and making it really fun to operate.”

Tesla brought one of those realities to fruition via the Tesla Semi, unveiled shortly after Musk’s “Tesla Master Plan Part 2”. It went into production last year, but has struggled to ramp up production, despite the profound improvements being made to Tesla’s manufacturing process.

Video of Tesla “Shuttle” Prototype

Although the video shared by Orth appears authentic, we have not been able to confirm its authenticity. The video may also be several years old according to Reddit user, EuthanizeArty. They say they saw this prototype at The Boring Company when they interviewed there four years ago.

“Saw this thing 4 years ago when I was interviewing at Boring,” they said. “I don’t think it’s in active development.”

Leaked video of the secret Tesla van prototype designed for Elon Musk’s Vegas Loop, from inside The Boring Company’s Las Vegas headquarters pic.twitter.com/A3A3XJ0UTx

— Jacob Orth (@JacobsVegasLife) July 10, 2023

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has reopened its investigation into a potential design flaw in Tesla vehicles, which may lead to sudden unintended acceleration. This comes after allegations were made that a voltage spike deep within the control systems could cause the vehicle to incorrectly read an accelerator input, even when none has occurred.

A Faulty Inverter at the Heart of the Issue?

The vehicle’s inverter design is the center of these new allegations. The theory, put forward by researcher Dr. Ronald A. Belt, proposes that a flaw in the design could interpret a random voltage spike as a pedal application in rare instances. This is due to the Model 3’s inverter using a single 1.65-volt calibration signal to monitor four ADCs (analog-to-digital converters, which convert the pedal position into an electric signal for the car).

When Voltage Spikes Trigger Unintended Acceleration

Under certain circumstances, such as slow driving, when the power steering requires more power, the draw on the 12-volt battery can cause a significant spike in the system. This voltage surge could lead the inverter to incorrectly conclude that the accelerator pedal has been pressed, resulting in unintended acceleration.

This unexpected acceleration could theoretically happen when a voltage spike, lasting only microseconds, occurs simultaneously as the car performs an ADC check, also lasting microseconds. Belt suggests that the frequency of these events aligns with the 200 or so incidents reported between 2013 and 2019.

The Silent Culprit

Adding complexity to this issue, Belt contends that due to the nature of the fault, it does not get logged as an error. The inverter’s misinterpretation of a voltage spike as a throttle input leaves no trace, leading to discrepancies between Tesla’s vehicle data and owners’ accounts, possibly explaining why the ODI initially denied the petition.

While Belt’s allegations primarily focus on the Model 3, which features a unique inverter design, he notes that similar errors could occur in Model S and Model X vehicles. This opens up the potential for a broader scope in the ongoing investigation.

The NHTSA will now assess Belt’s report to ascertain the validity of its findings. This isn’t the first petition directed at NHTSA to investigate unintended acceleration in Tesla vehicles, but it presents a novel perspective, emphasizing a potential design flaw rather than a driver or software issue.