Amid widespread rumors about the release of Tesla’s PI smartphone at the end of this year, a Facebook post claimed to show the inside of Tesla’s mobile phone manufacturing plant. This post has been shared multiple times in recent days. However, running a reverse image search revealed that the photo was digitally edited.
SOCIAL MEDIA CLAIM
Recently, a photo depicting Tesla and SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk standing next to workers in a factory has been circulated on social media, claiming it shows the inside of Tesla’s $2.1 billion Model PI smartphone manufacturing plant.
The Facebook post has garnered significant attention, being widely shared and attracting numerous reactions and comments. Many users believe the image, purportedly showing the inside of Tesla’s smartphone manufacturing plant, to be genuine.
Below is a snapshot of the social media claim from October 15, 2024, captioned “Inside Tesla’s $2.1 billion Model Pi smartphone manufacturing plant.”
The same claim has also been circulated on social media by other Facebook users in recent days.
Below are snapshots of the claim circulated on social media by other Facebook users who shared the same caption.
FACT CHECK
Fact Crescendo started debunking the above claim by conducting a reverse image search. This led us to uncover key facts, revealing the true origin of the image.
During the reverse image search, we discovered the authentic photo that had been published in various news reports related to factory operations in India.
Published in Hindustan Times’s news report, it indicates it depicted operations inside a mobile phone manufacturing plant in India during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. This photo was credited to the Reuters News Agency.
Hindustan Times | Archived Link
By comparing the two images, we discovered that the Facebook post image had been edited from the original photo by adding an image of Elon Musk and altering the color of the workers’ clothing. Please refer to the compared image below.
The news report also indicated that this photo was of the phone assembly line in a manufacturing plant located in Noida city – a home to global technology corporations including Nokia.
However, the news report did not reveal the name of the mobile phone factory or specify which company it was assembling phones for.
By searching through relevant images, we discovered several closely related photos. One image found on GettyImages reveals that the original photo was taken inside the Lava mobile phone manufacturing plant in Noida. Please refer to the image captured from GettyImage below.
Lava International Ltd., commonly known as LAVA, is an Indian multinational technology company that manufactures smartphones, laptops, computer hardware, and other electronics. For more about the company, visit its official website here.
In recent weeks, a widespread rumor suggested that Tesla would release its first-ever smartphone at the end of this year. This claim, fueled by various social media posts, quickly gained traction, with many enthusiasts eagerly discussing the potential features and technologies equipped with such a device.
However, after conducting a thorough investigation, Fact Crescendo has debunked this claim as false. Our detailed research, including a reverse image search and fact-checking with reliable sources, revealed no substantial evidence to support the rumor. Additionally, Tesla and Elon Musk have not made any official announcement regarding the production or release of a smartphone.
For more details and insight, please visit our previous debunking stories: in English here and in Khmer here.
CONCLUSION
Fact Crescendo discovered that the photo used in the Facebook post as described above is altered. The original image depicts workers inside a Lava mobile phone manufacturing plant in Noida, India. By comparing the images, it was evident that the Facebook post had edited the original by adding an image of Elon Musk and changing the color of the workers’ clothing. This alteration was intended to mislead viewers into believing it depicted Tesla’s alleged smartphone manufacturing plant.
Title:Alted Photo Falsely Claimed as Inside Tesla’s Phone Plant
Fact Check By: Jay UdomResult: Altered
