Boring Company's Prufrock-3 launches with no-excavation tech. Table of Contents JUST IN - 1h ago The News: The Boring Company has launched its Prufrock-3 tunnel boring machine using a new system called 'The Monster,' which allows the machine to drill directly into a parking lot surface - no pit, no shaft, no excavation required. Why It Matters: This is a step-change in how underground tunnels get built. Faster, cheaper deployments mean The Boring Company's Loop network - and the underground connections it builds for Tesla Gigafactories - can scale at a pace previously impossible. What is 'The Monster' - and why does it matter? Tunnel boring has always had a dirty secret: before any machine drills an inch of rock, crews spend weeks - sometimes months - digging a massive launch pit just to get the boring machine into the ground. It's expensive, it's disruptive, and it's slow. The Boring Company just made that problem disappear. Prufrock-3's new launch system, officially nicknamed 'The Monster,' tilts the boring machine downward at an angle, allowing it to bite directly into the surface of a parking lot and begin tunneling without any prior excavation. No pit. No shaft. No weeks of groundwork. According to The Boring Company, this system enables Prufrock-3 to begin tunneling within 24 hours of arriving on-site. Key figures. | Metric | Value | Context | | Time to begin tunneling (on-site) | 24 hours | vs. weeks with traditional pit prep | | Target tunneling speed | >1 mile/week | 6x faster than predecessor Godot | | Medium-term speed goal | 7 miles/day | 1/10 of human walking speed | | Target cost per mile (Loop tunnel) | <$8M | All-in, per mile | | Prufrock-4 weight (next gen) | 797,000 lbs | Up to 4.7M lbs of thrust | From Giga Texas to Las Vegas: where Prufrock has already drilled. This isn't Prufrock-3's debut project - the machine has already proven itself at two high-profile sites. At Tesla Giga Texas, Prufrock-3 was used to bore the 'Cybertunnel,' a dedicated underground passage that shuttles finished Cybertrucks from the factory floor in 60 seconds flat - bypassing a 12-minute surface drive. That kind of efficiency compounds directly into Tesla's production throughput. In Las Vegas, a Prufrock-series machine completed the Westgate-LVCC Connector, which opened in 2024 as part of the expanding Vegas Loop network. The machine famously 'porpoised' back up through the ground at the tunnel exit - a visual demonstration of the same directional flexibility that 'The Monster' now automates at launch. What's new today is the launch mechanism itself. By eliminating the excavation phase entirely, The Boring Company has removed one of the last major friction points in rapid tunnel deployment. How Prufrock-3 is engineered for speed. Beyond 'The Monster,' Prufrock-3 incorporates several design principles that separate it from conventional TBMs: * Continuous mining: Tunnel liner installation happens simultaneously with excavation - no stop-start cycles. * Zero-People-In-Tunnel (ZPIT): Fully automated operations reduce both safety risk and the logistical overhead of managing crews underground. * Rapid site entry: The Monster's tilting launch system means the machine can be deployed to a new site and operational within a single day. The next-generation Prufrock-4 is already in development, reportedly weighing 797,000 pounds and capable of generating up to 4.7 million pounds of thrust - suggesting The Boring Company is building toward significantly larger-diameter tunnels or harder geological conditions. The BASENOR take. Timeline: Prufrock-3 active now | Prufrock-4 & 5 in development Impact Level: | High - infrastructure-level change with direct Tesla ecosystem implications Confidence: | High - confirmed by @boringcompany official account, corroborated by multiple verified sources The tunnel boring industry has been largely unchanged for decades. Launch pits are expensive, time-consuming, and require significant land disruption - exactly the kind of friction that makes underground transit uneconomical at scale. 'The Monster' attacks that problem directly. For Tesla owners, the implications are tangible. The Boring Company operates in close orbit around Tesla's infrastructure ambitions - the Cybertunnel at Giga Texas is a working example of how faster, cheaper tunneling translates into real factory efficiency gains. As Loop networks expand to more cities, the speed of deployment becomes the key variable. A machine that can go from parking lot to active tunnel in 24 hours is a fundamentally different competitive proposition than anything that existed before. The Prufrock-4 figures are also worth watching. At nearly 400 tons and 4.7 million pounds of thrust, the next generation appears engineered for a meaningfully different scale of project - potentially larger-diameter tunnels capable of handling more than just Tesla vehicles. Whether that points toward freight, public transit integration, or something else entirely remains to be seen, but the engineering trajectory is clearly pointing upward. Deep dive. The naming of 'The Monster' is characteristically Boring Company - understated branding for what is, in engineering terms, a genuinely novel solution. Traditional tunnel boring machine launches require construction crews to excavate a pit deep enough to lower the TBM to the correct angle and depth before it can begin cutting. That process involves heavy equipment, significant concrete work, and weeks of preparation. 'The Monster' replaces all of that with a single tilting cradle mechanism that angles the machine downward from surface level. The 24-hour deployment claim is the number that should get attention. In infrastructure terms, the difference between a weeks-long site prep and a same-day launch is not incremental - it's a category shift. It means The Boring Company can respond to project opportunities faster, reduce mobilization costs, and potentially run multiple machines across more sites simultaneously without the traditional bottleneck of launch pit construction. It's also worth noting the broader Prufrock roadmap. With Prufrock-4 and Prufrock-5 reportedly in development, The Boring Company appears to be iterating on its TBM platform at a pace more reminiscent of software development than traditional heavy engineering. Each generation targets meaningful performance improvements - speed, thrust, and now launch logistics. If that cadence holds, the tunneling economics that make Loop networks viable in a handful of cities today could look very different within a few years. BASENOR Team Tesla accessory experts since 2017. Trusted by 500,000+ Tesla owners for the latest news, owner tips, and honest product insights.

Lessons Dubai can take away from our Las Vegas Loop trip review. It could help with the traffic situation in the UAE, say experts. March 11, 2026 The Vegas Loop, the brainchild of tech magnate Elon Musk, is also bringing the same Tesla-underpinned transport system to Dubai. Cosmopolitan cities have always dealt with traffic problems in one form or another - and Dubai can certainly use that. While it could help with the traffic situation in Dubai, experts have said that its success will hinge on how well it integrates with the Dubai Metro, public bus networks and other public transport options. The National hopped into rides in the Vegas Loop - here's what we found. What is the Loop? The Loop is being developed by Mr Musk's drilling venture, The Boring Company. It is meant to provide hassle-free rides underground to get people to their destinations faster. It is mostly concentrated at the Las Vegas Convention Centre area, which hosts major events like the tech-focused CES. Estimates indicate that the walking time between the LVCC's north/central hall and west hall is nearly half an hour; using the Loop to travel between those points would take just two minutes. The Loop was designed to transport more than 4,400 people per hour across the LVCC. Authorities, including those in Las Vegas and Clark County, have approved plans for 104 stations stretching 68 miles (110km). Boring, which is based in Texas, has already announced the Music Loop in Nashville, Tennessee. Meanwhile, the $545 million Dubai Loop's first four stations have been announced - Burj Khalifa, DIFC 2, Zabeel Dubai Mall Parking and ICD Brookfield Place, according to the Roads and Transport Authority. How to get to the Loop. Just head to any of the Vegas Loop's nine stations - at the Westgate, Fontainebleau, Resorts World and Encore hotels, five at the Las Vegas Convention Centre (LVCC), and two at Harry Reid International Airport, which has limited availability. The stations are either above or below ground. The one at Westgate is just across from its entrance, while the Fontainebleau station is in the basement parking area. The LVCC Encore station, at the time we visited, was closed, but was to open in time for Conexpo-CON/AGG, one of the biggest construction trade shows, which welcomes about 140,000 visitors. It was a relatively quiet day during our trip, but one of the Loop drivers told The National that, unsurprisingly, any convention will boost numbers. How much is the fare? There are three fare tiers online, where you can also select your destination, and choose between a single trip, return trip or day pass. A single trip starts at $4.25, which triples to $12 if you're coming from any of the airport stations. A round trip costs $7, but this doesn't apply if coming from the airport. A day pass, valid for the day selected, is $12.50. In terms of dirhams, that's between Dh15 to Dh45. It is not known what the actual pricing will be in Dubai. And yes, there are free rides, but only if you're travelling within the five LVCC stations. When you've purchased your tickets, you'll get a QR code - which you can also save to an Apple Wallet or Google Wallet. Head to where the Teslas are parked at the station, present the code to the driver, and you're ready to go. Quick ride. The trip underground was straightforward, and you're at your destination in a few minutes. Just for comparison, we did a little time trial: Google Maps told us that Resorts World to Westgate would take two minutes by car. Using the Loop, however, took us nearly three minutes. That may sound like the purpose of the Loop is being defeated, but there are a number of factors in play here. First, that trip was at around 11am, with traffic virtually clear above ground. On the same route during rush hour (about 4.30pm), Google Maps indicates 10 minutes, with a couple of roads clogged. The other point, and probably the more important one, is that in the Loop, you avoid all traffic and potential accidents. Which brings us to a vital question: what if a Tesla breaks down while in the Loop? The drivers told us that there is a standby rescue team ready to pull out any broken-down Tesla, and it shouldn't take that long. Also, the Loop features mini signal lights to ensure the "flow of traffic" is safe. And for good measure, drivers are in constant communication with traffic control and can ask for information such as whether a way is closed or a shortcut is available. It is not known if and when driverless Teslas will be used. And here's our suggestion... The Loop is a great solution for quick, hassle-free transport. But it could do better. As it stands, up to three (probably four) people can ride in one Tesla car in the Loop. But if there are big events like CES or the automotive trade show Sema, then getting bigger, more spacious vehicles could add more convenience. Mr Musk also teased the Robovan in 2024, but it is still a concept, though it has been designed to seat 20 people, which could be perfect for the Loop. The Loop's tunnels are wide enough for the doors of Tesla cars to open, and high enough for the Model X's wing doors. Robovans, meanwhile, are wider and significantly taller than Teslas, so that would require a real makeover for the tunnels. Also, why not improve the aesthetics in the tunnels? It's a little boring (pun intended), and a short trip would be made even better with some design tributes to the city where the Loop is. That would help make the Loop not only a convenient travel system, but also a tourist spot. Updated: March 12, 2026, 4:50 PM

Boring Company to build 3 free tunnels in New Orleans, Baltimore & Dallas. Table of Contents TODAY - 3h ago The News: The Boring Company has selected New Orleans, Baltimore, and Dallas as the three winners of its "Tunnel Vision Challenge" - and will fully fund the construction of passenger transport tunnels in all three cities. Why It Matters: This is a first-of-its-kind model for urban infrastructure: a private company building public transit tunnels at zero cost to the city. If the diligence phase clears, all three get built. Three cities, three tunnels, zero public cost. The Boring Company launched its "Tunnel Vision Challenge" in January 2026, inviting US cities to pitch their case for a free tunnel. The company received 487 submissions - and instead of picking one winner as originally promised, TBC is moving forward with three. The three winning projects are: * NOLA Loop - New Orleans, Louisiana (passenger transport via vehicles) * Ravens Loop - Baltimore, Maryland (passenger transport via vehicles) * University Hills Loop - Dallas, Texas (passenger transport via vehicles) All three are passenger transport tunnels - consistent with TBC's existing Las Vegas Convention Center Loop model, where Tesla vehicles shuttle passengers through underground corridors at speeds that bypass surface congestion entirely. Key figures. | Metric | Value | | Challenge submissions received | 487 | | Cities selected | 3 (+ 2 additional) | | Max tunnel length (per proposal specs) | Up to 1 mile | | Tunnel inner diameter | 12 feet | | Cost to winning cities | $0 | | Challenge launch date | January 2026 | What "fully funded" Actually means. This isn't just a promise to build - TBC is covering the entire pre-construction phase too. That includes meetings with city officials, regulators, and community leaders, plus geotechnical borings and infrastructure investigations. Every dollar of due diligence comes out of The Boring Company's pocket, not the city's budget. The catch - if you can call it that - is conditionality: the projects are currently entering a diligence phase to assess feasibility. If all three pass, all three get built. TBC hasn't committed to a build timeline yet, but the fully funded diligence phase is the clearest signal yet that these aren't just concept renders. The tunneling technology behind these projects is TBC's Prufrock machine, engineered for continuous mining with zero people inside the tunnel during operation. That's a meaningful safety and speed advantage over traditional cut-and-cover construction methods that tear up city streets for years. Beyond the three winners. The Tunnel Vision Challenge produced more than three compelling pitches. TBC announced it will also work independently with two additional entrants it found notable: * Hendersonville Utility Tunnel - Hendersonville, Tennessee * Morgan's Wonderland Tunnel - San Antonio, Texas These two won't receive the same fully funded treatment as the three main winners, but TBC's decision to continue engaging with them suggests the company sees a pipeline of projects well beyond what was originally scoped. The BASENOR take. Timeline: Diligence phase begins now (March 2026). No confirmed construction start date. Impact Level: | High - represents the largest geographic expansion of TBC's Loop network to date The Tunnel Vision Challenge was announced as a one-winner competition. Selecting three - and flagging two more for independent collaboration - tells you something important: TBC has the capacity and appetite to scale faster than its Las Vegas-only reputation suggests. For Tesla owners in New Orleans, Baltimore, and Dallas, the practical upshot is a potential future where your vehicle operates inside a TBC Loop - either autonomously or driver-operated - moving through the city at speeds impossible on surface roads. The Las Vegas Loop currently serves the Convention Center and resort corridor; these new cities would bring that model to entirely different urban contexts, including a university district (Dallas) and a major sports and transit hub (Baltimore's Ravens Loop name is a telling nod to local identity). The broader signal here is strategic. By funding construction itself rather than waiting for municipal budgets or federal grants, TBC removes the single biggest obstacle to getting tunnels built: political and financial inertia. Cities don't have to fight for budget line items. They just have to say yes and pass the feasibility check. That's a fundamentally different playbook than any other infrastructure company is running right now. Whether all three cities clear the diligence phase remains to be seen - geotechnical conditions vary wildly between New Orleans (notoriously difficult soil), Baltimore (dense urban core), and Dallas (more favorable geology). But the fact that TBC is absorbing that risk entirely means the company is betting real money that at least some of these will work. Watch the diligence timeline closely - that's when Basenor'll know which cities are actually getting shovels in the ground. BASENOR Team Tesla accessory experts since 2017. Trusted by 500,000+ Tesla owners for the latest news, owner tips, and honest product insights. Stay in the Loop Join 27,000+ Tesla owners who get its tips first - plus 10% OFF