Elon Musk has been open about his plans to expand Twitter’s capabilities beyond being a social media platform. He envisions turning the company into an “everything app,” similar to popular super apps like China’s WeChat. These super apps serve as a one-stop-shop for various functions on your phone, including messaging, calling, appointments, games, and ordering food.
In August, it was reported that Twitter, now called X, was exploring the addition of a stock trading hub. This move aligns with Musk’s banking ambitions, which he started discussing shortly after acquiring Twitter. In November 2022, Musk reportedly met with Twitter employees to discuss his idea of implementing payment features, such as debit cards, instant money transfers, and even loans, according to The Verge.
Musk’s plans have attracted mixed reactions. Some people express concerns about trusting X and its owner with their financial information, while others point out the challenges of introducing a WeChat-like service in the U.S. and Europe due to existing laws and regulations.
In a recent statement, CEO Elon Musk admitted that Tesla has “dug its own grave” with the Cybertruck. The electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer has been struggling to scale up production of the angular pickup truck.
Tesla is significantly behind schedule with the Cybertruck, as it initially promised to begin deliveries in 2021 when it was unveiled in 2019. Although production started in July, customers still cannot order the vehicle and Tesla is only accepting reservation deposits.
Musk acknowledged the challenges in achieving high-volume production with the Cybertruck and making it profitable during the company’s third-quarter earnings call. Tesla is utilizing innovative production techniques for this uniquely styled truck, including the use of ultra-hard stainless steel and large-scale gigapresses in its Texas factory.
Musk stated that Tesla aims to achieve a target volume production of 250,000 units per year by 2025, once it addresses the current issues.
The Cybertruck is a departure from Tesla’s focus on producing high volumes of popular global models like the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y. Musk described the Cybertruck as a special product that is exceptionally challenging to bring to market in significant quantities.
During the earnings call, Musk also expressed concerns about high interest rates driving up prices and impacting affordability for consumers.
Tesla claims to have a million reservations for the Cybertruck but has yet to announce its pricing. It is expected that the vehicle will cost more than the initial prediction of $39,900 for the base model, which was advertised to have a range of 250 miles.
Although the first production Cybertruck was recently pictured with factory workers, indicating an impending customer handover event, Tesla has not confirmed a delivery date.
With its radical design, including a wedge-shaped body, no front grille, angular window frames, and minimal bodywork curvature, the Cybertruck presents itself as a distinct alternative to traditional trucks like the Ford F-150 Lightning.
Elon Musk’s Tesla is currently dealing with a high-profile case involving allegations that its Autopilot feature caused a fatal accident. The trial, which began in California on September 28, claims that a Model 3 owner died when the software malfunctioned and caused the vehicle to veer off the highway, hit a tree, and ignite. The driver, Micah Lee, was killed, and two passengers were injured.
While this is a civil lawsuit, the outcome could have significant implications for the automotive industry as a whole. Tesla’s software has been linked to several other crashes, including a nine-car pileup that occurred shortly after the Full Self-Driving beta was made available to customers. A report from the summer of 2023 suggests that over 730 car accidents have been connected to Tesla’s self-driving system. Earlier this year, Tesla had to recall 360,000 vehicles due to concerns about their self-driving software.
According to Tesla CEO Elon Musk, even he thinks the Model X was a mistake. Musk stated in an interview with Business Insider that the Model X shouldn’t have been made and that they should have just modified the Model S instead. The Model X has numerous complex features and difficult-to-build parts that are unnecessary for selling cars.
Some of these features include problematic front gullwing and rear “falcon-wing” doors, a bioweapon air-filtration system, and a fast 0-60 time of 3.2 seconds.
Since its release, the Model X has been the focus of 24 safety recalls by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). These recalls cover issues with seat belts, airbags, collision avoidance systems, and autonomous driving systems.
In addition, the Model X’s massive windshield is prone to cracking, and numerous owners have complained about suspension noise due to defective front stabilizer bar bushings.
All these recalls and issues have led to a decrease in the value of used Model X cars in the market. While the original P90D version had a price tag of over $100,000, there are now used examples available for about half that price. However, considering the potential problems that may come with a used Model X, it is advisable for smart buyers to steer clear of its allure.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed a lawsuit against SpaceX, alleging hiring discrimination in the United States. SpaceX has previously stated that it requires U.S. green cards as a minimum requirement for employment due to the company’s involvement in advanced weapons technology. Elon Musk, the CEO of SpaceX, has emphasized that the company is legally prevented from hiring international candidates. He has also mentioned that a normal work visa is insufficient, unless the applicant receives special approval from the Secretary of Defense or the Secretary of State.
However, the Justice Department argues that there are no hiring restrictions in place based on export control laws. According to the DOJ, refugees and asylees have equal access to employment opportunities without requiring additional government approval for accessing “export-controlled information and materials.” The lawsuit aims to bring about policy changes at SpaceX, as well as seek civil penalties and back pay for victims affected by the alleged hiring restrictions.
Under Elon Musk’s leadership, Twitter has been making significant changes to its platform with the aim of expanding beyond its traditional short-form content format. One potential feature in the works is called Articles, which would enable users to publish longer-form content on the platform. It is unclear at this time whether Articles will be accessible to all users or limited to paid subscribers only, a strategy Musk has employed for other features, such as verification perks for subscribers.
In addition to Articles, Musk has introduced or announced various other modifications to enhance content creation and user engagement on Twitter. Earlier this year, Twitter Coins, an in-app currency system, was unveiled to allow users to reward creators. Musk has also advocated for original video content on the platform, as exemplified by giving Tucker Carlson his own “TV show” on Twitter after Carlson’s departure from Fox News. Another recent update involves monetizing posts of verified users through ad revenue sharing.
All these changes align with Musk’s broader vision of transforming Twitter into an all-in-one “X” app, similar to Asian superapps like WeChat. Given the success of Meta’s launch of Threads, Twitter faces the challenge of standing out within the competitive social media landscape. To retain existing users and attract new ones, it is possible that Twitter will expedite the development of Articles and promote it significantly. Currently, only a limited number of users have access to the experimental beta version of this new feature, and the public launch date remains unknown.
Most of the big automakers have faced the prospect of complete collapse. Fortune has favored some of them, with salvation coming from one or more of the manufacturer’s car models. Unbeknownst to many, some of the world’s top car companies were saved by their SUV offerings. Here are 10 SUVs that saved some of the biggest automakers.
In the late 90s, it looked like Nissan wouldn’t survive beyond the turn of the millennium. The company’s fortunes changed when Renault invested $5.4 billion in Nissan, acquiring a 37 percent stake. Given free rein at Nissan to turn the company around, Carlos Ghosn slashed costs, shutting down inefficient factories in Japan, laying off personnel, and restructuring deals with suppliers. The aggressive plan worked, with Nissan regaining profitability fairly rapidly.
To reclaim its 70s glory days, Nissan needed a car to outsell its rivals. An attempt at new generation Almera failed, as Nissan’s hierarchy realized it wouldn’t be as profitable as required nor satisfy customer demands.
Therefore, Nissan debuted an audacious concept, the Qashqai, a blend between a hatchback and a SUV. Despite being affordable, compact, and designed for family use, the Qashqai represented a huge risk for Nissan. However, the Qashqai defied bleak predictions by the media. Primarily manufactured in Sunderland, U.K., the Qashqai became a global sensation: by 2017, Nissan had sold 3.3 million units. The vehicle’s stunning success helped Nissan reestablish itself as one of the world’s leading automakers.
9Ford Escape
Ford
An action shot of a 2003 Ford Escape
Unlike its competitors, GM and Chrysler, Ford didn’t need government money to survive the 2008 recession. It borrowed money, sold brands like Land Rover, Aston Martin, and Volvo, and improved its most profitable vehicles, making them more fuel efficient without compromising their capabilities. Despite Ford forgoing investments in crossovers, the Ford Escape unexpectedly proved essential in Ford’s ascent to profitability.
In 2011, the Ford Escape, which had received minimal upgrades since its debut in 2001, was the top-selling SUV in America, with Ford moving over 200,000 units. It ranked second behind the F-series on the list of top-selling Fords. A year later, Ford released the third-generation Escape, which proved even more popular than the second-gen: sales peaked at over 308,000 in 2017. Ford Escape sales have dropped steadily since that high. Nevertheless, the Escape will forever be remembered as an unlikely hero for Ford during one of the company’s lowest ebbs.
8Jeep Cherokee XJ
Art Konovalov / Shutterstock
Front three-quarters shot of a blue Jeep Cherokee XJ
In the late 1960s, Jeep was struggling under the stewardship of Kaiser Motors. Its flagship car, the Wagoneer SJ, was either underpowered when purchased with a 4.2-liter engine or too thirsty when sold with a 5.9-liter or 6.6-liter V-8. American Motors Corporation (AMC) bought Jeep in 1970 and, with investment from Renault, set about designing a replacement for the SJ.
Dick Teague and Francois Castaing built the Cherokee XJ, whose impact reverberated across the automotive industry. It was a light, powerful, fuel-efficient, and family-friendly SUV that felt at home off-road and on paved roads. The Cherokee XJ was an overwhelming success, winning favor with automotive media outlets and the American public. The XJ re-established Jeep as a brand worth owning. Chrysler’s then-chairman, Lee Iacocca, bid for and acquired AMC, particularly due to the monumental success of the Cherokee XJ.
A front 3/4 action shot of a 2022 Aston Martin DBX
Aston Martin has faced extinction numerous times but has always found a way to survive, like a cat with its proverbial nine lives. The company started selling the DBX around the time a consortium led by Lawrence Stroll acquired the company. Stroll’s strategy to make Aston Martin profitable involved charging higher for vehicles and cutting the brand’s debt.
Aston Martin DBX sales would also prove crucial in the company’s revival. The manufacturer’s first SUV is its most popular vehicle. The vehicle accounted for half of Aston Martin’s sales in 2022, a year that saw Aston Martin’s sales rise 26 percent to 1.4 billion. Aston Martin has yet to regain profitability, but the company is optimistic that the plan will pay off. The DBX has played and will keep playing a crucial part in Aston Martin’s resurgence.
6Bentley Bentayga
Benley
A front 3/4 shot of a Bentley Bentayga
Bentley, a Volkswagen subsidiary, was necessarily in need of ‘saving’ when it launched the Bentayga – it had recovered well from the late 2000s slump. Nevertheless, it needed to sell more vehicles. Therefore, it introduced the Bentley Bentayga, a luxury SUV that would help Bentley break its sales records. The Bentayga would also expose Bentley to a younger demographic.
Within a year, the Bentayga established itself as Bentley’s main draw, significantly outselling the manufacturer’s other offerings. Bentayga sales shielded Bentley from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, which caused a 15 percent drop in new car sales in 2020. That year, Bentley delivered over 11,206 vehicles, a two percent increase from 2019, with the Bentayga forming the bulk of those deliveries. In 2022, the Bentayga accounted for 42 percent of Bentley’s sales, helping the manufacturer sell over 15,000 cars in a year for the first time since its founding in 1919.
5Proton X70
Automachi via Wikimedia Commons””>
Automachi via Wikimedia Commons
Front 3/4 shot of a Proton X70 parked
Proton, a Malaysian car company, was barely alive in 2017 when it sold a 49.9 percent stake to Geely. The government had given up trying to save the company. Despite protests from Malaysian nationals that a national brand had been sold to a foreign company, efforts to revive the once-storied brand began. CEO Li Chunrong introduced several cost-cutting measures, and the company began developing the Proton X70 SUV.
The X70 SUV rejuvenated Proton. Cheap yet spacious and technologically up-to-date, the Proton X70 was a big hit. Since 2019, the Proton X70 has occupied the top spot as Malaysia’s best-selling C-segment SUV. X70 sales increased by 13.1 percent from 2021 to 2022. The X70’s high sales inspired the development of other successful Proton SUVs – the X50 and the X90. The X50 was Malaysia’s best-selling SUV in 2022.
Oshndoc via Wikimedia commons””>
Oshndoc via Wikimedia commons
Front 3/4 shot of a 2010 Jeep Wrangler JK Islander parked outdoors
When Chrysler acquired Jeep in the late 1980s, it was strapped for cash and looked to profit from the Cherokee XJ’s impressive sales. In 2008, Chrysler, one of the three biggest automakers in the U.S., faced complete collapse. Despite getting help from the government, Chrysler needed huge sales to claw its way out of trouble. In stepped the Jeep Wrangler JK.
The most successful Jeep Wrangler generation debuted in 2006 with the 2007 model. It outsold the previous-gen 2006 model by nearly 50 percent. It maintained its popularity with the American public until the last one rolled off the production line in 2018 – Jeep sold around 180,000 Wrangler JK’s annually. The Wrangler proved pivotal in Chrysler’s renaissance.
3Land Rover Discovery
Land Rover
A front 3/4 shot of a Land Rover Discovery Series I
The most famous Land Rover is arguably the Defender. However, Land Rover owes its success as much to the Defender as the Discovery. The Discovery was the first model that Land Rover developed for the wider public. It was based on the Range Rover, with both vehicles using the same chassis, 4WD system, and suspension.
In many ways, the Discovery was a precursor to the modern crossover. It was advertised as a family car capable of occasional off-roading. It had the off-road capabilities of a Range Rover but was cheaper and more spacious than the upmarket Range. The Discovery was a hit, offering Land Rover the finances to keep building vehicles.
2Volvo XC90
Volvo
Front/side profie of a Volvo XC90
Volvo was under Ford ownership when the XC90 debuted in the early 2000s. It wasn’t until eight years later that the XC90 proved crucial to the automaker’s success. Following the 2008 financial crisis, Ford sold Volvo to Geely, which, unlike Ford, allowed Volvo technicians to develop the XC90 from scratch. Volvo worked on the second-generation XC90 for five years.
The Swedish manufacturer released the XC90 in 2015. The resources poured into the vehicle’s development paid off – the motoring world praised its design, powertrain, cost, and safety features. Customers responded by buying the vehicle in droves. The XC90 highlighted Volvo’s pedigree as a carmaker and guaranteed its survival in the car world.
A shot of an old Cayenne with the 2022 Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT
In the early 1990s, Porsche recorded heavy losses. Looking to capitalize on the rising demand for small sports cars, the German manufacturer introduced the Boxster. The Boxster steadied the ship, offering time for Porsche’s higher-ups to dream up the idea of the Cayenne, a sports SUV. The idea was novel and absolutely brilliant.
The groundbreaking Cayenne was an instant hit. Porsche had expected to sell 25,000 examples annually; the first-generation Cayenne’s annual average sales were just under 35,000. The Cayenne was a masterstroke from Porsche that helped it regain its footing in the car industry. While some claim that the Boxster was the car that kept Porsche afloat, there’s no disputing the Cayenne’s pivotal role in Porsche’s revival.
Most of the big automakers have faced the prospect of complete collapse. Fortune has favored some of them, with salvation coming from one or more of the manufacturer’s car models. Unbeknownst to many, some of the world’s top car companies were saved by their SUV offerings. Here are 10 SUVs that saved some of the biggest automakers.
In the late 90s, it looked like Nissan wouldn’t survive beyond the turn of the millennium. The company’s fortunes changed when Renault invested $5.4 billion in Nissan, acquiring a 37 percent stake. Given free rein at Nissan to turn the company around, Carlos Ghosn slashed costs, shutting down inefficient factories in Japan, laying off personnel, and restructuring deals with suppliers. The aggressive plan worked, with Nissan regaining profitability fairly rapidly.
To reclaim its 70s glory days, Nissan needed a car to outsell its rivals. An attempt at new generation Almera failed, as Nissan’s hierarchy realized it wouldn’t be as profitable as required nor satisfy customer demands.
Therefore, Nissan debuted an audacious concept, the Qashqai, a blend between a hatchback and a SUV. Despite being affordable, compact, and designed for family use, the Qashqai represented a huge risk for Nissan. However, the Qashqai defied bleak predictions by the media. Primarily manufactured in Sunderland, U.K., the Qashqai became a global sensation: by 2017, Nissan had sold 3.3 million units. The vehicle’s stunning success helped Nissan reestablish itself as one of the world’s leading automakers.
9Ford Escape
Ford
An action shot of a 2003 Ford Escape
Unlike its competitors, GM and Chrysler, Ford didn’t need government money to survive the 2008 recession. It borrowed money, sold brands like Land Rover, Aston Martin, and Volvo, and improved its most profitable vehicles, making them more fuel efficient without compromising their capabilities. Despite Ford forgoing investments in crossovers, the Ford Escape unexpectedly proved essential in Ford’s ascent to profitability.
In 2011, the Ford Escape, which had received minimal upgrades since its debut in 2001, was the top-selling SUV in America, with Ford moving over 200,000 units. It ranked second behind the F-series on the list of top-selling Fords. A year later, Ford released the third-generation Escape, which proved even more popular than the second-gen: sales peaked at over 308,000 in 2017. Ford Escape sales have dropped steadily since that high. Nevertheless, the Escape will forever be remembered as an unlikely hero for Ford during one of the company’s lowest ebbs.
8Jeep Cherokee XJ
Art Konovalov / Shutterstock
Front three-quarters shot of a blue Jeep Cherokee XJ
In the late 1960s, Jeep was struggling under the stewardship of Kaiser Motors. Its flagship car, the Wagoneer SJ, was either underpowered when purchased with a 4.2-liter engine or too thirsty when sold with a 5.9-liter or 6.6-liter V-8. American Motors Corporation (AMC) bought Jeep in 1970 and, with investment from Renault, set about designing a replacement for the SJ.
Dick Teague and Francois Castaing built the Cherokee XJ, whose impact reverberated across the automotive industry. It was a light, powerful, fuel-efficient, and family-friendly SUV that felt at home off-road and on paved roads. The Cherokee XJ was an overwhelming success, winning favor with automotive media outlets and the American public. The XJ re-established Jeep as a brand worth owning. Chrysler’s then-chairman, Lee Iacocca, bid for and acquired AMC, particularly due to the monumental success of the Cherokee XJ.
A front 3/4 action shot of a 2022 Aston Martin DBX
Aston Martin has faced extinction numerous times but has always found a way to survive, like a cat with its proverbial nine lives. The company started selling the DBX around the time a consortium led by Lawrence Stroll acquired the company. Stroll’s strategy to make Aston Martin profitable involved charging higher for vehicles and cutting the brand’s debt.
Aston Martin DBX sales would also prove crucial in the company’s revival. The manufacturer’s first SUV is its most popular vehicle. The vehicle accounted for half of Aston Martin’s sales in 2022, a year that saw Aston Martin’s sales rise 26 percent to 1.4 billion. Aston Martin has yet to regain profitability, but the company is optimistic that the plan will pay off. The DBX has played and will keep playing a crucial part in Aston Martin’s resurgence.
6Bentley Bentayga
Benley
A front 3/4 shot of a Bentley Bentayga
Bentley, a Volkswagen subsidiary, was necessarily in need of ‘saving’ when it launched the Bentayga – it had recovered well from the late 2000s slump. Nevertheless, it needed to sell more vehicles. Therefore, it introduced the Bentley Bentayga, a luxury SUV that would help Bentley break its sales records. The Bentayga would also expose Bentley to a younger demographic.
Within a year, the Bentayga established itself as Bentley’s main draw, significantly outselling the manufacturer’s other offerings. Bentayga sales shielded Bentley from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, which caused a 15 percent drop in new car sales in 2020. That year, Bentley delivered over 11,206 vehicles, a two percent increase from 2019, with the Bentayga forming the bulk of those deliveries. In 2022, the Bentayga accounted for 42 percent of Bentley’s sales, helping the manufacturer sell over 15,000 cars in a year for the first time since its founding in 1919.
5Proton X70
Automachi via Wikimedia Commons””>
Automachi via Wikimedia Commons
Front 3/4 shot of a Proton X70 parked
Proton, a Malaysian car company, was barely alive in 2017 when it sold a 49.9 percent stake to Geely. The government had given up trying to save the company. Despite protests from Malaysian nationals that a national brand had been sold to a foreign company, efforts to revive the once-storied brand began. CEO Li Chunrong introduced several cost-cutting measures, and the company began developing the Proton X70 SUV.
The X70 SUV rejuvenated Proton. Cheap yet spacious and technologically up-to-date, the Proton X70 was a big hit. Since 2019, the Proton X70 has occupied the top spot as Malaysia’s best-selling C-segment SUV. X70 sales increased by 13.1 percent from 2021 to 2022. The X70’s high sales inspired the development of other successful Proton SUVs – the X50 and the X90. The X50 was Malaysia’s best-selling SUV in 2022.
Oshndoc via Wikimedia commons””>
Oshndoc via Wikimedia commons
Front 3/4 shot of a 2010 Jeep Wrangler JK Islander parked outdoors
When Chrysler acquired Jeep in the late 1980s, it was strapped for cash and looked to profit from the Cherokee XJ’s impressive sales. In 2008, Chrysler, one of the three biggest automakers in the U.S., faced complete collapse. Despite getting help from the government, Chrysler needed huge sales to claw its way out of trouble. In stepped the Jeep Wrangler JK.
The most successful Jeep Wrangler generation debuted in 2006 with the 2007 model. It outsold the previous-gen 2006 model by nearly 50 percent. It maintained its popularity with the American public until the last one rolled off the production line in 2018 – Jeep sold around 180,000 Wrangler JK’s annually. The Wrangler proved pivotal in Chrysler’s renaissance.
3Land Rover Discovery
Land Rover
A front 3/4 shot of a Land Rover Discovery Series I
The most famous Land Rover is arguably the Defender. However, Land Rover owes its success as much to the Defender as the Discovery. The Discovery was the first model that Land Rover developed for the wider public. It was based on the Range Rover, with both vehicles using the same chassis, 4WD system, and suspension.
In many ways, the Discovery was a precursor to the modern crossover. It was advertised as a family car capable of occasional off-roading. It had the off-road capabilities of a Range Rover but was cheaper and more spacious than the upmarket Range. The Discovery was a hit, offering Land Rover the finances to keep building vehicles.
2Volvo XC90
Volvo
Front/side profie of a Volvo XC90
Volvo was under Ford ownership when the XC90 debuted in the early 2000s. It wasn’t until eight years later that the XC90 proved crucial to the automaker’s success. Following the 2008 financial crisis, Ford sold Volvo to Geely, which, unlike Ford, allowed Volvo technicians to develop the XC90 from scratch. Volvo worked on the second-generation XC90 for five years.
The Swedish manufacturer released the XC90 in 2015. The resources poured into the vehicle’s development paid off – the motoring world praised its design, powertrain, cost, and safety features. Customers responded by buying the vehicle in droves. The XC90 highlighted Volvo’s pedigree as a carmaker and guaranteed its survival in the car world.
A shot of an old Cayenne with the 2022 Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT
In the early 1990s, Porsche recorded heavy losses. Looking to capitalize on the rising demand for small sports cars, the German manufacturer introduced the Boxster. The Boxster steadied the ship, offering time for Porsche’s higher-ups to dream up the idea of the Cayenne, a sports SUV. The idea was novel and absolutely brilliant.
The groundbreaking Cayenne was an instant hit. Porsche had expected to sell 25,000 examples annually; the first-generation Cayenne’s annual average sales were just under 35,000. The Cayenne was a masterstroke from Porsche that helped it regain its footing in the car industry. While some claim that the Boxster was the car that kept Porsche afloat, there’s no disputing the Cayenne’s pivotal role in Porsche’s revival.
It may seem like Zuckerberg was joking when he expressed his willingness to meet Musk in a physical fight. However, it seems that the creator of Facebook is serious about the mano-e-mano encounter. “The story speaks for itself,” a spokesperson from Meta told The Verge. This would be the first time that Zuckerberg has shown an aggressive side. In contrast, Musk has playfully teased his fellow billionaire on multiple occasions in the past. For instance, he recently tweeted that Zuckerberg’s knowledge of AI is limited.
Of course, the apparent animosity between them will truly escalate when billions of dollars are involved. Musk spent $44 billion to acquire Twitter and reportedly reduced its valuation by half in less than a year. On the other hand, Zuckerberg is focused on developing a Twitter competitor using the foundation of Instagram. This new platform will prioritize text-based communication instead of photo and video sharing. From a fighter’s perspective, things seem unclear.
Zuckerberg has considerable skills in jiu-jitsu, while there is no information about Musk’s fighting abilities. Zuckerberg is also known for his endurance challenges. However, Musk is visibly taller, standing at around 6 feet, compared to Zuckerberg’s reported height of 5 feet, 7 inches. The difference in weight and arm reach could play a significant role in the fight. But one can only speculate about the outcome if these two were to truly face each other.
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