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Tesla CEO Elon Musk increases support of US Hospitals in coronavirus fight
SpaceX and Tesla CEO Elon Musk is continuing in his efforts to help fight the spread of the coronavirus, recently delivering masks to US Hospitals that have been faced with medical supply shortages from the COVID-19 outbreak.
As an initial first step, 50,000 N95 surgical masks were delivered to the home of Dr. Kristina Adams Waldorf, on Sunday, March 22, courtesy of Musk and Tesla. The donation was arranged in a matter of hours, with more on the way to other medical facilities.
Thanks for taking delivery in your garage! Let us know if there’s anything else you need.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 23, 2020
With the number of cases of COVD-19 rising along with the number of people admitted to the hospital, medical staff are being forced to ration their personal protection equipment (PPE). This means that they may wear the same gown and mask all day, instead of changing it frequently. These kinds of practices are not safe and are something that Musk and Tesla are trying to mitigate.
Musk pledged to deliver an initial 250,000 masks to help medical professionals that have been crippled by equipment shortages in their local hospitals. The most critical piece of PPE. N95 masks are typically used in construction and manufacturing (as well as the medical field) because they block out all airborne particles and liquid that could contaminate the face. This is in stark contrast to the disposable cloth surgical masks, which really only protect the wearer from large droplets, allowing smaller particles like from a cough or sneeze to come through.
I want to publicly thank @elonmusk for sending a truckload of PPEs (masks, gowns, etc.) to UCLA Health today! They will be put to good use. My wife, her co-workers and her patients thank you profusely. pic.twitter.com/SiAdqMcPCT
— Peyton Reed (@MrPeytonReed) March 22, 2020
In addition to the masks, Musk says that Tesla has been working on ventilators and is expected to have around 1,200 to donate this week. Musk noted that the most difficult part of that task is getting the ventilators delivered and installed.
To facilitate the manufacturing of these life-saving machines, on Sunday the FDA decided to wave typical regulations that would require new manufacturers to wait for FDA approval to build or modify a ventilator. Along with Tesla, GM and Ford have also been given approval to get to work on the much-needed equipment.
But that’s not all, Musk has said that his company is also working on other types of PPE, so in the near future perhaps we could see deliveries of gowns and more.
PLEASE SHARE: UCSF frontline #covid19 care providers are in urgent need of critical supplies such as masks, disposable gloves & more. You can drop off donations at 3 sites in San Francisco and Oakland starting Monday, 3/23.
More info ➡️ https://t.co/vwNQwUx12Y #coronavirus pic.twitter.com/1Y8pISHpfA— UC San Francisco (@UCSF) March 22, 2020
In December, a new strain of coronavirus, called SARS-COV-2 spread across China. The virus causes a disease called COVID-19, which attacks the respiratory system of a person. COVID-19 symptoms are similar to the seasonal flu and can include dry cough, fever, and shortness of breath. The severity of symptoms varies from person-to-person.
Most will experience a mild to moderate case which could feel like a severe case of the flu. Common symptoms include the feeling of being tired, achy, and often times accompanied by a high fever. But some cases are much worse and require hospitalization.
Elon Musk has been pretty open about the idea of FSD being the difference maker for Tesla’s future.
If Tesla succeeds in achieving FSD, it could become the world’s most valuable company. If it doesn’t, then the company would not be able to reach its optimum potential.
FSD Supervised’s safety benefits:
- But even if FSD is still not perfect today, FSD Supervised is already making a difference on the roads today.
- This was highlighted in Tesla’s Q4 2024 Vehicle Safety Report.
- As per Tesla, it recorded one crash for every 5.94 million miles driven in which drivers were using Autopilot technology.
- For comparison, the most recent data available from the NHTSA and FHWA (from 2023) showed that there was one automobile crash every 702,000 miles in the United States.
This morning, Tesla FSD proved to be an absolute godsend. I had to take my brother-in-law to the hospital in Sugar Land, TX, which is 40 miles away, at the ungodly hour of 4 AM. Both of us were exhausted, and he was understandably anxious about the surgery.
— JC Christopher (@JohnChr08117285) January 29, 2025
The convenience of…
FSD user’s tale:
- As per an FSD user’s post on social media platform X, FSD Supervised was able to help him drive a relative to a medical facility safely even if he was exhausted.
- During the trip, the driver only had to monitor FSD Supervised’s performance to make sure the Tesla operated safely.
- In a vehicle without FSD, such a trip with an exhausted driver would have been quite dangerous.
- “This morning, Tesla FSD proved to be an absolute godsend. I had to take my brother-in-law to the hospital in Sugar Land, TX, which is 40 miles away, at the ungodly hour of 4 AM. Both of us were exhausted, and he was understandably anxious about the surgery.
- “The convenience of sending the hospital’s address directly from my iPhone to my Tesla while still inside my house, then just a single button press once inside, and 40 miles later we were precisely in front of the hospital’s admissions area.This experience really underscores just how transformative this technology can be for society,” Tesla owner JC Christopher noted in his post.
Don’t hesitate to contact us with news tips. Just send a message to simon@teslarati.com to give us a heads up.
There are few things that prove an enthusiast’s love towards a company more than a dedicated short film. This was highlighted recently when YouTube’s SoKrispyMedia posted a 10-minute action movie starring Optimus, Tesla’s humanoid robot, as well as several of the company’s most iconic products.
The video:
- Shot like a Hollywood action flick, the video featured a rather humorous plot involving a group of thieves that mistakenly targeted a Tesla Model 3 driver.
- The Model 3 driver then ended up speaking to Tesla for assistance, and some high-octane and high-speed hijinks ensued.
- While the short film featured several Tesla products like the Model 3, Superchargers, and the Cybertruck, it is Optimus that truly stole the show.
- Optimus served several roles in the short film, from an assistant in a Tesla office to a “robocop” enforcer that helped out the Model 3 driver.
Future Robo-cop @Tesla_Optimus
— SOKRISPYMEDIA (@sokrispymedia) January 12, 2025
full video: https://t.co/TXpSRhcP5K pic.twitter.com/YFHZ7siAP7
Cool inside jokes:
- The best Tesla videos are those that show an in-depth knowledge of the company, and SoKrispyMedia definitely had it.
- From the opening scenes alone, the video immediately poked fun at TSLA traders, the large number of gray Tesla owners, and the fact that many still do not understand Superchargers.
- The video even poked fun at Tesla’s software updates, as well as how some Tesla drivers use Autopilot or other features without reading the fine print in the company’s release notes.
- The video ended with a tour de force of references to Elon Musk products, from the Tesla Cybertruck to the Boring Company Not-a-Flamethrower, which was released back in 2018.
Check out SoKrispyMedia’s Tesla action short film in the video below.
Don’t hesitate to contact us with news tips. Just send a message to simon@teslarati.com to give us a heads up.
Tesla definitely seems to be determined to release the coolest lineup of accessories for its coolest vehicle. As could be seen in an update to the Tesla Shop, the electric vehicle maker has now launched a metal key card for the Cybertruck—because why not?
Cybertruck keys:
- The Cybertruck, similar to Tesla’s other vehicles, is shipped with a regular key card.
- The vehicle could also be accessed and locked through a phone key.
- As per the Cybertruck’s Owner’s Manual, the all-electric pickup truck is capable of supporting a total of 19 keys.
The Cybertruck’s Metal Key Card:
- Tesla’s Cybertruck Metal Key Card functions much like the vehicle’s regular key card, but it is finished using premium stainless steel
- As per Tesla’s description of the item:
- “Convenient, durable, versatile. The Cybertruck Metal Key Card is a premium stainless-steel alternative to our traditional plastic key cards, making it easy to access your Cybertruck without your Phone Key. Ideal for when your phone is unavailable or when sharing your vehicle with a friend or valet.”
- The Cybertruck Metal Key Card costs $60.
- In comparison, the Cybertruck’s regular key card is sold for $40.
- The Cybertruck Metal Key Card comes with the metal key card itself, as well as a bifold key card wallet.
Tesla Cybertruck merch push:
- Being the company’s most eye-catching vehicle, it is no surprise that that Tesla has been releasing quite a lot of merchandise inspired by the all-electric pickup truck.
- These include a $250 levitating Cybertruck model, as well as a $35 Cybertruck wind-up racer, both of which are out of stock.
- Tesla also sells the $35 “CyberMug,” a $40 “CyberStein,” and a $50 “CyberVessel.”
- Other Cybertruck-inspired merchandise are the $60 Cyberwhistle Stealth, and the $50 CyberOpener.
Don’t hesitate to contact us with news tips. Just send a message to simon@teslarati.com to give us a heads up.
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