After Sunday Robotics emerged from stealth mode last week, it revealed a team stocked with Tesla alums. At least 10 former Tesla employees work at the robotics startup, including several longtime employees who were involved in Tesla's humanoid robot and self-driving efforts, according to a LinkedIn analysis. Perry Jia, who worked on Tesla's Autopilot and Optimus programs for nearly six years, announced last week that he'd left the electric-car maker during the summer to work at the startup.
In August, I planned to drive from the Bay Area to Los Angeles County and back to help my friend move. We needed a rental car that had sufficient storage space and wouldn't rack up a big gas bill. My friend suggested a Tesla Model Y because its driver assistance technology would make the seven-hour trek south - my first long-distance drive - easier.