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E-Book Review: “Owning Model S” – The Definitive Guide to Buying and Owning the Tesla Model S

Nick Howe’s “Owning Model S” book has been receiving rave reviews from Model S owners and enthusiasts worldwide. But despite the temptation to purchase it, I held off on buying the paperback because I’ve been waiting for the e-book version. Well it’s finally here and I’m ecstatic to be reviewing it.
The e-Book
I consider myself pretty well read on the Model S from browsing through forums and blogs, but what surprised me most about ‘Owning Model S’ was that there was an abundance of hidden tips and useful information on the Model S that I never knew about. Not only is the book rich with content and contains excellent narratives, diagrams and pictures, but it’s also really well structured.
Forums are great for an interactive social discussion and you have the patience to comb through the noise, but they can drive you crazy if you’re just trying to find a specific piece of information! The book reads really well from front to back and also serves as a great reference guide. The sections are laid out in a very organized manner which allows you to quickly find the information you’re looking for.
As $16.95 the book may run a bit pricier than other traditional e-books, but given the considerable amount of time that went into the research and production of the book, I think it’s worth every penny.
e-Book Benefits
I usually install my e-book on multiple devices ranging from my desktop computer, a laptop computer, my iPhone 5 (and later 6) and my iPad mini. My e-books can be read on many popular devices. Having this type of access allows me to read it wherever I am and regardless of my device.
e-Books also come with a quick search capability that your traditional paperback doesn’t have. With the e-book you’re able to search by keyword and jump directly to the information you need. Much like a physical book you can also highlight sections of the book and mark key pages. The images in ‘Owning Model S’ are in high quality so you’re able to pinch zoom without it being distorted.
I made the move to all e-books years ago for many of the reasons above and I think the e-book format is the only way to go.
e-Book Challenge
Authors like Nick Howe have to be concerned about people copying his work and distributing it freely. That means Nick needed to protect his work through a Digital Rights Management (DRM) system. I’ve never published an e-book before but one thing I do know is that it’s possible to get published on the Amazon Kindle store. Considering Amazon provides readers for all platforms including one of the most popular e-book readers in the world, it’s hard to understand why ‘Owning Model S’ did not go down this path, thus limiting itself to distribution and convenience for its readers.
For “Owning Model S” they went with an Adobe DRM format that requires a special e-book reader you’re not likely to have used before. The process for getting the reader involves registering an account with Adobe (many people won’t have accounts with Adobe before this), downloading the reader (not by Adobe if on a mobile device) and finally opening the encrypted book which you should have received via email after purchasing online from EVAnnex. You’ll have to repeat this set up using the special reader on every device that you intend on using.
It’s confusing and it’s a pain. But to their credit, they do provide helpful instructions on how to move through the process. Amazon Kindle is unfortunately not supported, and don’t even think about reading this from your Model S 17″ touchscreen.
Other features missing from the reader is the ability to synchronize your read position across devices and the ability to select and copy text. Another really odd feature or lack thereof is the ability to click on URLs. And since you can’t copy text, there’s no way for you to copy the URL and paste it into a browser.
Ultimately, ‘Owning Model S’ is one of the most comprehensive guides for the Model S and a must have by all owners. I would love to see Nick put the book on the Amazon store one day and open distribution up to more devices and potential readers.
The Model S is an amazing feat of technology, but you don’t have to be a geek to drive it. That said, you shouldn’t have to be a tech savvy geek to be able to read about it either.

News
Tesla Giga Berlin hits new milestone by producing 500,000th Model Y
The achievement was announced on social media platform X.

Tesla has produced its 500,000th Model Y at Giga Berlin-Brandenburg.
The achievement was announced on social media platform X through the company’s Tesla Manufacturing account.
A Production Milestone
A photo posted on X featured Tesla Gigafactory Berlin employees posing with a freshly-produced new Model Y. The milestone was celebrated in the facility, as hinted at by numerous balloons and confetti at the end of the all-electric crossover’s production line.
Giga Berlin-Brandenburg was officially opened on March 22, 2022. With this in mind, it would appear that it took the facility just over 1,100 days to produce half a million Model Ys. That’s not as fast as other facilities like Giga Shanghai, but Giga Berlin’s contributions to Tesla’s global output are still notable.
Giga Berlin’s Path and Hurdles
Initially known as Gigafactory 4, Giga Berlin began construction in 2020. The facility’s buildout faced several delays, from the pandemic to environmental and administrative issues. Tesla ultimately held a “Giga Fest” event in October 2021 and formally opened the factory on March 22, 2022 after securing final approval.
Tesla’s Q4 and FY 2024 Update Letter lists Giga Berlin’s annual production capacity at over 375,000 vehicles. It should be noted, however, that Tesla has plans to expand Gigafactory Berlin, allowing the facility to produce more vehicles.
So far, Giga Berlin only produces the new Model Y, Tesla’s best-selling car. The facility supplies the vehicle to several markets, from Germany to several other countries. As per factory manager André Thierig, “We not only manufacture vehicles for the German market, but also for 37 other markets, both within and outside the EU.”
News
Tesla China launches new low-interest promos on Model Y, Model 3
New zero- and low-interest financing terms arrive for both the Tesla Model Y and Model 3.

Tesla China has launched new promotions on the recently released Model Y refresh and the Model 3, offering special zero-interest loans for the next few weeks.
On Monday, Tesla began offering zero-interest loans with one- to three-year terms on purchases of the new Model Y, available between April 1 and 30 on the company’s order configurator. In addition, the automaker is offering a one- to five-year interest plan with annual rates as low as 1 percent when buyers make a down payment of at least RMB 45,900 (~$6,325).
Tesla China’s April 2025 Model Y promotions

Credit: Tesla China
You can read more details on Tesla China’s zero-interest promotion below, as detailed on the order configurator page and translated into English from Chinese.
Rejuvenated Model Y rear-wheel drive version, long-range all-wheel drive version – limited-time 0-interest/low-interest loan scheme
Customers who purchase the new Model Y rear-wheel-drive version/long-range all-wheel drive version/long range during the event from April 1, 2025 to April 30, 2025, and deliver and pay in the order before the expiration date of the vehicle, customers who meet the application qualification can apply for the following financial preferential schemes:
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- Starting from RMB 79,900, you can enjoy a 1 to 3 year 0 interest plan
- From the down payment of RMB 45,900, you can enjoy a 1- to 5-year low-interest program with an annual rate of 1.00 percent (from 1.84 percent).
Tesla China’s April 2025 Model 3 promotions

Credit: Tesla China
The company is also offering five-year, zero-interest financing for the Model 3 RWD and AWD Long Range, and you can see the terms for the zero- and low-interest Model 3 promotions and others below:
Model 3 rear-wheel drive version, long-range all-wheel drive version – limited-time 0-interest/low-interest loan solution
Customers who purchase a designated version of the Model 3, long-range all-wheel-drive version, long-range all-wheel-drive version, and delivery and payment terms in the order during the event from April 1, 2025 to April 30, 2025, customers who meet the eligibility requirements can apply for the following financial preferential schemes:
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- Starting at RMB 79,900, you can enjoy a 1 to 5 year 0 interest plan
- Starting from RMB 45,900, you can enjoy a 1 to 5 year low interest program with an annual rate of 0.5 percent (from 0.92 percent per annum)
Additionally, Model 3 buyers can get discounted rates on home charging equipment, or a six-year Supercharging package offering up to 30,000km (~18,641 miles) of charging for free.
Tesla posts an onboarding tutorial video for its customers in China, starring the new Model Y.
Here comes the new Model Y ramp!pic.twitter.com/Dm8NQsdQGj— TESLARATI (@Teslarati) March 5, 2025
READ MORE ON TESLA CHINA: Tesla China seems to have overtaken Q1 2024’s registrations with new Model Y ramp
Tesla first launched the refreshed Model Y in China in January, debuting the refaced vehicle with a special “Launch Edition” series that came with special badging and an extra two years or 40,000km (~24,855 miles) of warranty time. Deliveries of the Launch Edition Model Y began in China late last month, and Tesla officially transitioned to selling non-Launch models in the first few days of March.
For the Chinese market and several others, Tesla produces the Model Y and Model 3 at a Gigafactory in Shanghai. In recent weeks, reports have suggested that Giga Shanghai may also be looking to produce an even cheaper version of the new Model Y without some of the extra add-ons, perhaps not unlike the cheaper Model 3 that launched in Mexico last August.
Elon Musk
Tesla subject to another arson vandalism as 17 cars lit on fire in Rome

Tesla has been hit with another round of arson-type vandalism in Rome, Italy, as 17 cars at a showroom in the city were destroyed in a blaze.
Italian anti-terror police unit Digos is investigating the fire that claimed 17 Tesla vehicles. The unit believes that a group of anarchists set fire to the cars last night in what is the most recent instance of violent vandalism against the company.
Tesla Italy said it is cooperating with police, according to a report from ABC News, which said in its report that 16 cars were counted as destroyed in the fire.
The Rome Fire Department said it was investigating “all avenues” of how the fire started. This is the second fire that has destroyed Tesla vehicles in Italy in a week, as a car dealership in Northern Rome also caught fire. That was initially cited as an electrical issue that started the blaze, but police are still investigating.
Terrorism also in Italy. Last night in Rome 17 cars were burned in a Tesla dealership. This is largest attack on Tesla in Europe. CC @ElonMusk @GiorgiaMeloni. pic.twitter.com/GFiVVnmYEs
— RadioGenoa (@RadioGenoa) March 31, 2025
Unfortunately, this is far from the first instance of arson against Tesla in the world, especially in the last few months as CEO Elon Musk has become the target of attacks across the globe. Not only is the company being impacted, but owners are as well, as there have been many instances of targeted attacks against Tesla drivers.
In the United States, attacks are becoming more frequent and more violent. Everything from Molotov cocktails to bullets have been used to intimidate and damage Tesla’s company property.
Meanwhile, drivers are continuing to report that their vehicles have been keyed, had their tires slashed, or worse, as a result of driving the company’s products.
The most recent example saw a 61-year-old woman be blocked in and assaulted by a 33-year old:
🚨 We are seeing some reports that the driver who assaulted the 61-year-old lady is 33-year-old Robert Antherton.
He was reportedly arrested for disorderly conduct, assault, and aggressive driving https://t.co/kOy4uNgl8q
— TESLARATI (@Teslarati) March 31, 2025
The U.S. has established a Task Force within the FBI to fight Tesla-related attacks. Additionally, the Trump Administration has labeled these acts as domestic terrorism.
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