Tesla might be about to solve one of the biggest headaches for road trippers and rural drivers: the dreaded “no service” bar. A newly published patent reveals that the company is rethinking vehicle roof design from the ground up, moving away from traditional glass and metal in favor of materials that let satellite signals pass right through.
The patent (Pub. No. U.S. 2025/0368267) describes a vehicle roof made from radio frequency (RF)-transparent polymers. Essentially, Tesla wants to turn the top of your car into a window for data. While most of us don’t think twice about our car’s roof, standard materials like steel or even specialized glass can act like a shield, blocking or weakening the high-frequency signals needed for satellite internet.
To fix this, Tesla is looking at high-strength polymer blends like polycarbonate, ABS, and ASA. These aren’t just “plastic” roofs; these materials are already workhorses in the aerospace world because they are incredibly tough. The patent details a four-layer structure designed to be “RF-transparent” while still being rigid enough to keep the cabin quiet and safe.
Safety is a huge part of the filing. Tesla explicitly mentions that this new design still meets federal crash standards (FMVSS), addressing the obvious concern that a polymer roof might not protect you as well as a traditional one in a rollover. It’s a delicate balancing act – making a roof that’s “invisible” to satellites but “rock-solid” for the passengers inside.
By integrating satellite connectivity directly into the car’s architecture, Tesla could effectively kill off dead zones. Whether you are driving through a remote mountain pass or camping off-grid, your car would stay online without needing a nearby cell tower.
Beyond just letting passengers stream Netflix in the middle of nowhere, this is a strategic move for Tesla’s Robotaxi ambitions. An autonomous fleet needs a constant, unshakeable connection to the mother ship for remote monitoring and software updates. Satellite internet provides that “always-on” fallback that cellular networks just can’t guarantee.
We have already seen some “DIY” Tesla owners sticking Starlink Mini dishes under their glass roofs with mixed results. This patent suggests Tesla is ready to offer a much cleaner, factory-integrated version. While patents don’t always turn into products immediately, this one is a clear sign that Tesla wants its cars to be the most connected machines on the planet – even when there isn’t a cell tower for miles.
BYD has launched the third-generation Qin Plus DM-i in China, and the first thing that caught my eye is its price. According to CarNewsChina, the plug-in hybrid sedan starts at 79,900 yuan, which is about $11,980. That’s an incredibly low price for a brand-new car, especially by US standards.
What’s even more impressive is the range. The Qin Plus DM-i can drive up to 137 miles on electricity alone, which should cover most people’s daily commutes without using a drop of gas. Once the battery runs out, the 1.5-liter engine takes over. Thanks to its 17-gallon tank and roughly 91 mpg with a drained battery, the combined range reaches up to 1,423 miles.
Apple won the PC market’s worst quarter, but that’s not the entire story. It won the race by stumbling less than everyone else.
PC makers shipped just 57 million computers worldwide in Q3, which might look good, but it’s a 21% year-over-year plunge (via Counterpoint Research). And despite Apple’s Mac shipments falling by 11%, to 5.6 million, its market share rose from 8.7% to 9.8%. How did that happen?
Update (October 22 23:54 PT): In response to our query, GM clarified that offline recording support is already available on eligible vehicles. Like Tesla's Sentry Mode, it requires owners to connect a USB drive to save incident recordings, which can be viewed on the vehicle's infotainment screen. The upcoming Connected Cameras feature will build on this by giving owners remote access to these recordings via the revamped OnStar app, allowing them to check footage without walking out to their car.
General Motors has announced plans to add a new Connected Cameras feature to its OnStar service starting next year, giving drivers a way to monitor parked vehicles remotely and capture footage of certain incidents.