Panasonic Corp reported an 11% increase in second-quarter operating profit on Thursday, beating analyst estimates, helped by solid performance from its Tesla Inc battery business. Panasonic, the main battery cell supplier for Tesla Inc, posted profit of 92.8 billion yen ($886.34 million) for the July-September period, compared with 83.9 billion yen a year ago. The company maintained its profit forecast for the year through March at 150 billion yen, down 48.9% from the previous year.

Owners of Tesla Inc's (NASDAQ: TSLA) earlier Model S and Model X vehicles who have opted for an infotainment system retrofit, which removes radio from their vehicles, can still listen to the broadcasts provided they shell out an extra $500.What Happened: The $2,500 infotainment upgrade is offered to owners of Model S and Model X vehicles built March 2018 or earlier, according to Tesla's website.The upgrade adds features like video streaming and a games arcade. Tesla claims it also offers a “more responsive and faster touchscreen experience.”Adding Radio to the upgrade will cost the owners of these earlier models a total of $3,000 (plus applicable tax). “There is no difference in price if you have the Radio Upgrade and Infotainment Upgrade installed separately or together,” the company says.Radio upgrades will become available in the current quarter.Why It Matters: The decision to offer the radio retrofit came after complaints from some owners, Electrek reported.The new entertainment features have reportedly led to an increased demand for the infotainment updates.Radio service from Sirius XM Holdings Inc (NASDAQ: SIRI) will only be available on vehicles with existing XM radio antennas and requires an additional subscription. AM radio will not be available even with the upgrade, Tesla said on its website.In June, it was reported that the United States National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is probing the failure of Tesla's giant touch screens that took place between 2012 and 2015.Price Action: Tesla shares closed nearly 4.4% lower at $406.02 on Wednesday and gained 0.37% in the after-hours session.See more from Benzinga * Click here for options trades from Benzinga * Trump Campaign Website Hacked, Attackers Demand Cryptocurrency In Exchange For Spilling Secrets * Tesla Reports Improved Miles-To-Accidents Ratio For Autopilot(C) 2020 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

Ford blew away Q3 views with earnings that nearly doubled and now expects to a key profit gauge to turn positive this year.

One of the most important aspects of an electric car is efficiency. Only so much battery energy can fit in the space a vehicle allows, and the batteries can be expensive. A more efficient car can go farther with a smaller battery.The newest EPA data for 2021 Tesla Inc (NASDAQ: TSLA) vehicles shows the company is still firmly in the lead when it comes to efficiency. It's one of the reasons Teslas have the best range of any electric cars on the planet. Electrek has done a comparison with some other brands, and Tesla is far ahead of the competition.The EPA lists how much energy — in kilowatt-hours — it takes for an electric vehicle to go 100 miles.Tesla's AWD Model 3 uses 25kWh to go 100 miles, while the two-door Mini Cooper SE, a much smaller vehicle, uses 31kWh for the same distance. This is approximately 25% more energy to go the same distance in a much smaller car. Benzinga's Take: Tesla's efficiency is impressive. Even the company's crossover Model Y uses less energy per mile than the much smaller Mini Cooper.The efficiencies presented by Tesla allow lower vehicle costs, more range and a savings for customers when it comes time to charge their cars as well. Photo via EPA Website.See more from Benzinga * Click here for options trades from Benzinga * Tesla's Gigafactory Berlin Will Have 600 Charge-Ready Parking Spots * Tesla May Have Launched Energy Plan To Help Reduce Electricity Rates(C) 2020 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

According to Consumer Reports, Tesla’s Autopilot system placed a “distant second” to industry leader General Motors GM, scoring 57 out of 100 points, compared with 69 for the Detroit auto maker who brought us the Hummer.