SpaceX Starlink Launch, Tesla's Battery Facility, and New Insurance Policy in California

Michelle opens the episode with a focus on SpaceX's Starlink satellite launch, noting the sonic booms experienced during the mission. The discussion then turns to Tesla's latest developments, including the announcement of a new battery facility and a renewed focus on Megapack projects in Western Australia. Michelle also covers Tesla's launch of a new insurance policy and discounts available to customers in California, highlighting the company's strategic moves in the market. The episode delves into SpaceX's regulatory challenges in South Africa, providing insights into the complexities of international operations. The episode wraps up with a call to follow future updates.

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
SpaceX is gearing up for yet another thrillinglaunch, set to send 23 Starlink satellites into
low-Earth orbit from the Vandenberg Space ForceBase in California.
This mission is part of the ambitious expansionof the Starlink network, which aims to provide
global broadband Internet coverage.
Scheduled for liftoff at 4:26 PM local time onSunday, this launch will be supported by a

(00:24):
seasoned Falcon 9 first-stage booster, markingits 23rd flight.
Residents in the nearby areas of Santa Barbara,San Luis Obispo, and Ventura might catch a
glimpse of this exhilarating event—or at leasthear it—thanks to potential sonic booms.
These booms depend on the weather and otherconditions during the launch.

(00:48):
Following the stage separation, the boosterwill attempt to land on the autonomous
spaceport drone ship, aptly named "Of Course IStill Love You," stationed in the Pacific
Ocean.
For those who can't be on-site, SpaceX willprovide a live webcast of the mission, starting
about five minutes before liftoff.
You can catch this broadcast on SpaceX’swebsite or its official X account.

(01:13):
This event underscores SpaceX’s relentlessdrive to innovate and expand, keeping fans and
followers on the edge of their seats as theywatch the Starlink constellation grow.
Tesla has just signed a memorandum ofunderstanding with the Western Australian
government to establish a cutting-edge batteryre-manufacturing facility in Collie.

(01:34):
This facility will be strategically locatednear Neoen’s massive 2.2 gigawatt-hour battery
energy storage system, which is one ofAustralia's largest.
The new service facility is expected to beoperational by 2026 and will cater to a variety
of battery products across Western Australiaand the broader Asia-Pacific region.

(01:56):
The facility will focus on re-manufacturingTesla's Megapack technology, which integrates
lithium-ion batteries, a power conversionsystem, thermal management, and controls.
This technology is already being utilized inthe two-phase development of Neoen’s 560
megawatt/2,240 megawatt-hour Collie batteryenergy storage system.

(02:20):
Once connected to the South-West InterconnectedSystem grid, it'll significantly boost the
region's energy storage capabilities.
Josef Tadich, Tesla’s regional director ofenergy, highlighted that this facility will
allow Tesla to repair and maintain itsutility-scale Megapack and residential
Powerwall battery systems locally.

(02:42):
He emphasized that this would provide fastersupport for local customers while cutting down
on logistical costs and emissions.
This move is a testament to Tesla's commitmentto sustainability and innovation in energy
solutions.
Western Australia’s minister for energy,environment, and climate action, Reece Whitby,

(03:03):
expressed enthusiasm about the development,describing it as a "huge vote of confidence" in
the state's energy transition.
Whitby mentioned that Collie, already a hub forsome of Australia’s largest batteries, will now
host Tesla’s biggest Australian facility.
This aligns with Western Australia Labor’senergy transition goals, particularly with the

(03:25):
state election on the horizon.
The announcement comes at a time when WesternAustralia is seeing political pledges around
energy.
The Labor Party has promised a significantinvestment in a 500 megawatt-hour vanadium
battery if re-elected, while the Nationals haveproposed a comprehensive State Planning Policy

(03:45):
for renewable energy projects.
These developments highlight the region'sgrowing focus on renewable energy and storage
solutions.
Tesla is shaking things up in the insuranceworld with a brand new policy launch in
California.
Over the weekend, Tesla announced that it'sbringing its insurance underwriting in-house
with the Tesla Insurance Company, moving awayfrom its previous partner, State National

(04:10):
Insurance Company.

And here's the kicker (04:12):
they're offering a three percent discount on a term's worth of premiums
for those who make the switch to this newpolicy!
But there's a catch—customers need to switch byfour days before March 14 to snag that
discount.
So, if you're a Tesla owner in California, thismight be the perfect time to reconsider your

(04:33):
insurance options.
However, it's worth noting that Californiaremains the only state where Tesla insurance
can't use real-time Safety Scores to influencepremium rates, because of privacy regulations.
But drivers in the other eleven states whereTesla offers insurance, including Arizona and
Texas, can enjoy this feature.

(04:54):
Speaking of discounts, Tesla's also rolling outsavings in Arizona and Texas for those who use
Supervised Full Self-Driving for at least halfof their driving time.
It's clear that Tesla's not just about sellingcars; they're committed to making the entire
ownership experience more affordable andseamless.
And as if that's not enough, Tesla's got itseyes set on the international market.

(05:19):
The company registered a brokerage in Chinalast August, hinting at potential insurance
offerings there.
Plus, with the recent hiring of former Geicoexecutive Allen Laben, Tesla's doubling down on
its mission to lower insurance premiums acrossthe United States.

Laben's vision is ambitious (05:35):
make Tesla vehicles easy and economical to insure,
ultimately lowering the total cost of ownershipand speeding up the transition to sustainable
energy.
In a bold move, SpaceX has stirred the pot inSouth Africa by challenging the country's black
economic empowerment rules, specifically therequirement for 30% broad-based black economic

(05:59):
empowerment (BBBEE) shareholding.
SpaceX withdrew from the oral presentations atthe Independent Communications Authority of
South Africa (Icasa) hearings, but they didn'tshy away from making their stance clear in a
written submission.
The submission calls for a reevaluation ofthese rules, highlighting how they might
exclude foreign satellite operators who haveglobal policies against local shareholding.

(06:24):
This development comes after a meeting betweenSouth African President Cyril Ramaphosa and
Elon Musk last year, where Ramaphosa invitedMusk to invest in South Africa.
However, the conversation about SpaceX'ssatellite internet services was brief, with
Musk reportedly insisting that he doesn't "giveaway equity" and urging a change in the laws.

(06:46):
This has put South Africa in a trickyposition—balancing the geopolitical
implications and the potential benefits ofaffordable satellite internet.
SpaceX argues that aligning licensing andownership regulations with the information and
communications technology sector code couldopen up significant opportunities for foreign
satellite operators in South Africa.

(07:09):
This could not only drive foreign investmentbut also bolster innovation, competition, and
long-term industry growth.
The current rules, they argue, pose a barrierto companies like SpaceX, which, unlike local
cellphone companies, operate on a global scaleand have different business models.
The debate touches on how different sectors aretreated under South Africa's regulations.

(07:33):
While big international tech companies oftenhave "equity equivalents" instead of direct
shareholding, local cellphone companies arerequired to have 30% black equity ownership.
This discrepancy has sparked discussions onwhether SpaceX should be treated as an
information and communications technologyoperator or a communications company.

(07:55):
Local cellphone companies have voiced theirconcerns, fearing that SpaceX's entry could
disrupt the market.
They argue that satellite operators mightthreaten mobile network quality and national
security, despite evidence to the contrary.
Meanwhile, SpaceX continues to advocate fortheir model, which they believe could
revolutionize internet access in rural areaswhere traditional infrastructure is lacking.

(08:21):
This situation is reflective of broadertensions where countries must navigate between
attracting foreign investment and adhering tolocal economic policies.
As the story unfolds, it raises questions aboutthe future of internet access in South Africa
and how regulatory frameworks might evolve toaccommodate new technologies and global players

(08:42):
like SpaceX.
Alright that's a wrap for this episode.
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Thanks again for listening, and hope to catchyou next time.