autoevolution
 

Cristian Agatie

Contributor
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As a child, he grew up among tractors and heavy machinery and was covered in grease from tip to toe most of the time. It was a tractor that he drove for the first time and when asked what he’d become, he candidly replied: “tractor operator”. Later on, he drove all kinds of vehicles, from heavy trucks to off-roaders, all outside of public roads until he got his driving license.

He did not become a tractor operator, as you can tell already. Instead, he got interested in journalism and pursued a career finding stories for local newspapers and radio stations. But the first love is never forgotten, so when presented with the chance, he seized it and became a motor journalist in 1995.

Having found the perfect job to mix his passion for cars and journalism, he couldn’t help exploring other areas, like science, computers, and mobile devices. He took stints working for a computer magazine for a couple of years, and it was then that he had his first contact with new media. But cars always remained his passion, so he returned to motor journalism when Auto Bild started its local branch. Later, he became an internet junkie, and moving online felt only natural.

In the meantime, he also became obsessed with technology, electric vehicles, batteries, and whatnot, so he writes a lot about those. He found autoevolution a fertile ground for exploration and so he discovered his passion for RVs and campers, but also solar panels and new energy solutions.
Elon Musk Agrees To "Try a Little Advertising" at Tesla, Is This About Demand?
Elon Musk Agrees To "Try a Little Advertising" at Tesla, Is This About Demand?

17 May 2023, 16:53 UTC · By: Cristian Agatie / Tesla never spent money on traditional advertising, although it used its social media channels more intensively in the past months. During the 2023 Shareholder Meeting, Elon Musk conceded that Tesla should try "a little advertising," send...

 
Elon Musk Reveals When the Tesla Roadster Will Finally Enter Production
Elon Musk Reveals When the Tesla Roadster Will Finally Enter Production

17 May 2023, 14:18 UTC · By: Cristian Agatie / Tesla introduced the second-generation Roadster alongside the Semi in 2017, both models being planned to enter production in 2019. While Tesla Semi already hauls goods, the Roadster is yet to move from the design phase. Elon Musk offered a new time...

 
Tesla's Optimus Bot Is Now Able To Learn New Skills With No Programming Involved
Tesla's Optimus Bot Is Now Able To Learn New Skills With No Programming Involved

17 May 2023, 11:04 UTC · By: Cristian Agatie / Tesla Optimus Bot made a brief and rare appearance in a video projected at the 2023 Annual Shareholder Meeting. The headline was that the humanoid robot could walk around and grab things, but the exciting part is that it can do so after learning fr...

 
Elon Musk Reiterates That the Cybertruck Has an Exoskeleton, Will Be an Expensive Truck
Elon Musk Reiterates That the Cybertruck Has an Exoskeleton, Will Be an Expensive Truck

17 May 2023, 09:50 UTC · By: Cristian Agatie / Tesla's annual shareholder meeting, dubbed Cyber Roundup, was light in detail about Tesla's upcoming models, but there are still things that Tesla fans can cling to. The most important takeaway from the event is that the electric pickup w...

 
Tesla Teases Next-Gen Compact EV, Hints at Prototyping Phase Being Underway
Tesla Teases Next-Gen Compact EV, Hints at Prototyping Phase Being Underway

17 May 2023, 07:50 UTC · By: Cristian Agatie / During Tesla's Annual Shareholder Meeting, Elon Musk offered insight into its Gen-3 EV platform. Tesla CEO teased the design of one of the two models planned on the new platform, showing a compact crossover slightly resembling the Model Y. The...

 
Volvo EX30 Makes Its Last Prototype Appearance Before Its Official Unveiling on June 7
Volvo EX30 Makes Its Last Prototype Appearance Before Its Official Unveiling on June 7

16 May 2023, 18:04 UTC · By: Cristian Agatie / Volvo announced last December that its smallest electric crossover would be named EX30. The new model will premiere on June 7, and we've already seen its design in patent images. Our photographers also shot some real-life pictures of a prototy...

 
Renault Teases Its New 'Rafale' Flagship SUV, Slated To Launch on June 18
Renault Teases Its New 'Rafale' Flagship SUV, Slated To Launch on June 18

16 May 2023, 16:39 UTC · By: Cristian Agatie / Renault will have a new flagship in its SUV lineup, pushing the Austral and Espace down the ranks. The new model is a coupe-SUV inspired by Renault's history as an aircraft manufacturer in the 1930s. The mid-size crossover will share the CMF-C...

 
Tesla Plans Giga Shanghai Expansion With Intriguing Pouch-Type Cell Production Line
Tesla Plans Giga Shanghai Expansion With Intriguing Pouch-Type Cell Production Line

16 May 2023, 13:13 UTC · By: Cristian Agatie / Tesla applied to expand Giga Shanghai and add a new production line for pouch-type batteries. The information is intriguing, as Tesla only uses cylindrical cells and has previously warned that pouch cells are too dangerous to be used in an electric...

 
Elon Musk Is Back Micromanaging Tesla, Wants To Personally Approve New Hirings
Elon Musk Is Back Micromanaging Tesla, Wants To Personally Approve New Hirings

16 May 2023, 10:44 UTC · By: Cristian Agatie / Elon Musk will spend less time at Twitter after Linda Yaccarino was anointed as the new CEO. Musk will devote more attention to Tesla, aiming to again micromanage the company. His latest decision was to announce to Tesla staff that he would review ...

 
Rivian Issues Bug-Fixing Update To Address Loss of Performance With the Previous Build
Rivian Issues Bug-Fixing Update To Address Loss of Performance With the Previous Build

16 May 2023, 08:54 UTC · By: Cristian Agatie / Rivian pushed a new over-the-air update to its fleet to address some issues introduced with the previous update. Among the most annoying was the loss of vehicle performance reported by some owners. The new 2023.18.00 update also refines the chargin...

 
Tesla's Annual Shareholder Meeting Expected To Clear Many Misunderstandings
Tesla's Annual Shareholder Meeting Expected To Clear Many Misunderstandings

15 May 2023, 18:05 UTC · By: Cristian Agatie / Tesla will hold another shareholder meeting on May 16, and, as usual, people expect to find answers to their many questions related to the EV maker's operations and plans. Unlike Investor Day, where Tesla talked mainly about financial matters,...

 
First Cybertruck Front Megacastings Spotted at Giga Texas
First Cybertruck Front Megacastings Spotted at Giga Texas

15 May 2023, 16:15 UTC · By: Cristian Agatie / Tesla enthusiast and drone pilot Joe Tegtmeyer spotted intriguing megacastings in the south stamping section of Giga Texas. Based on their size and shape, these appear to be Tesla Cybertruck front megacastings. The images confirm that Tesla is inde...

 
Ford Unveils All-Electric E-Tourneo Courier Alongside Gas-Powered Variant
Ford Unveils All-Electric E-Tourneo Courier Alongside Gas-Powered Variant

15 May 2023, 14:42 UTC · By: Cristian Agatie / Ford expands its electric-vehicle range in Europe with the electric version of the Tourneo Courier MPV. The Ford E-Tourneo Courier represents a clean-sheet design aimed at maximizing space and practicality while sporting an SUV-inspired design. ...

 
Tesla Launches Model 3 LR RWD in Europe, It's Built in China With LGES Batteries
Tesla Launches Model 3 LR RWD in Europe, It's Built in China With LGES Batteries

15 May 2023, 11:38 UTC · By: Cristian Agatie / The Tesla Model 3 Long Range AWD is back on the menu for European customers, although in a different form. The new model, arguably offering the best bang for the buck, is built in China with LGES battery cells. Tesla is still not offering it throug...

 
Despite Asking $15K for FSD Capability, Tesla Puts No Value on It at Trade-In
Despite Asking $15K for FSD Capability, Tesla Puts No Value on It at Trade-In

15 May 2023, 09:43 UTC · By: Cristian Agatie / Tesla sells the non-transferrable FSD Capability for $15,000 in the US, although this option has no value when you sell your car or even trade it in. Elon Musk promised to look into it, although you should not hold your breath. If you still want to...

 
Tesla's 4680 Battery Cells Still Not Up to Snuff, the Cybertruck Likely Affected
Tesla's 4680 Battery Cells Still Not Up to Snuff, the Cybertruck Likely Affected

15 May 2023, 08:06 UTC · By: Cristian Agatie / Tesla bet everything on its new 4680 battery cells, but that might've been a mistake. Based on the certification documents for the Model Y AWD, the new cells have a lower energy density, putting a question mark on the Cybertruck's perform...

 
Tesla Is Preparing a Big Update to How Its Camera-Based Driver Monitoring System Works
Tesla Is Preparing a Big Update to How Its Camera-Based Driver Monitoring System Works

14 May 2023, 12:08 UTC · By: Cristian Agatie / Tesla is about to improve its camera-based driver monitoring system by adding the ability to detect drowsiness. The camera will be able to track additional parameters even when the car is not on Autopilot, significantly boosting safety. Many veh...

 
Tesla Model 3 'Project Highland' Rumored To Land in the US This Summer
Tesla Model 3 'Project Highland' Rumored To Land in the US This Summer

14 May 2023, 08:53 UTC · By: Cristian Agatie / Earlier this month, we learned that the refreshed Tesla Model 3 would start test production on June 1. Although Tesla denied the report, the information has been confirmed by a new source, adding that the Model 3 Long Range announced in the US will...

 
Rivian Can Deliver a Vehicle in Less Than 14 Days, but Not for Early Reservation Holders
Rivian Can Deliver a Vehicle in Less Than 14 Days, but Not for Early Reservation Holders

13 May 2023, 23:42 UTC · By: Cristian Agatie / Rivian bragged about shortening delivery time to 14 days or less in some cases, but this is not working for everyone. Early reservation holders who locked their prices a year ago are constantly pushed to the back of the queue. Rivian appears on ...

 
Lucid Lives on Life Support While Its Main Investor Considers Longer-Term Strategy
Lucid Lives on Life Support While Its Main Investor Considers Longer-Term Strategy

13 May 2023, 09:47 UTC · By: Cristian Agatie / Lucid posted terrifying first-quarter losses, worrying investors that their money would get wiped out in a few quarters. Still, Lucid's biggest investor, Saudi Arabia's Private Investment Fund (PIF), seems unfazed by the EV startup's...

 

Stories by Cristian Agatie