21st July, 2016
Tesla's new 'master plan' includes electric buses, trucks and car sharing.
10 years after Elon Musk published the first Tesla Motors Master Plan, the latest update might surprise many.
TESLA CEO Elon Musk has unveiled the much anticipated update to the company's 'Master Plan' in an announcement on the Tesla website.
Tesla Master Plan, Part Deuxhttps://t.co/XQeTlsoEdE
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 21, 2016
In brief, Musk's vision includes:
- An integrated solar and battery product
- Expansion of electric vehicle line into trucks and buses
- Autonomous driving technology
- A car-sharing business
Solar-roof-with-battery product
Tesla is looking to build an integrated solar-roof-with-battery product that will allow users to generate their own power. In setting out how the acquisition of SolarCity will benefit consumers, Musk noted, "We can't do this well if Tesla and SolarCity are different companies, which is why we need to combine and break down the barriers inherent to being separate companies."
Tesla shares initially dropped by more than 10 percent when the proposal to acquire SolarCity was first announced, but have since recovered.
Tesla is looking to build an integrated solar-roof-with-battery product that will allow users to generate their own power. In setting out how the acquisition of SolarCity will benefit consumers, Musk noted, "We can't do this well if Tesla and SolarCity are different companies, which is why we need to combine and break down the barriers inherent to being separate companies."
Tesla shares initially dropped by more than 10 percent when the proposal to acquire SolarCity was first announced, but have since recovered.
New vehicle lineup
Musk said the Model 3 will include a compact SUV option and also a "new kind of pickup truck."
Musk also announced plans to expand electric vehicle technology to heavy-duty trucks and "high passenger-density urban transport" (buses), which will be ready for unveiling next year. Tesla's technology will allow for buses to become smaller and, Musk added, would greatly improve traffic congestion.
Musk said the Model 3 will include a compact SUV option and also a "new kind of pickup truck."
Musk also announced plans to expand electric vehicle technology to heavy-duty trucks and "high passenger-density urban transport" (buses), which will be ready for unveiling next year. Tesla's technology will allow for buses to become smaller and, Musk added, would greatly improve traffic congestion.
Tesla's Model 3
In addition, the "Tesla Semi" will, Musk says, "deliver a substantial reduction in the cost of cargo transport, while increasing safety and making it really fun to operate."
All vehicles will be Autonomous
Tesla will continue to develop its autonomous hardware and software so that "all Tesla vehicles will have the hardware necessary to be fully self-driving."
While currently in 'beta' mode, Musk says that, "once we get to the point where Autopilot is approximately 10 times safer than the US vehicle average, the beta label will be removed."
Tesla will continue to develop its autonomous hardware and software so that "all Tesla vehicles will have the hardware necessary to be fully self-driving."
While currently in 'beta' mode, Musk says that, "once we get to the point where Autopilot is approximately 10 times safer than the US vehicle average, the beta label will be removed."
Photo: David Paul Morris — Bloomberg via Getty Images
Car sharing
Finally, Musk says, that when autonomous driving is given the green light be regulators, Tesla's technology will mean that, "you will be able to summon your Tesla from pretty much anywhere. Once it picks you up, you will be able to sleep, read or do anything else enroute to your destination."
Motorists will be able to add their self-driving Tesla to the "Tesla shared fleet," Musk says, which will allow you to generated income when the car isn't being used.
Finally, Musk says, that when autonomous driving is given the green light be regulators, Tesla's technology will mean that, "you will be able to summon your Tesla from pretty much anywhere. Once it picks you up, you will be able to sleep, read or do anything else enroute to your destination."
Motorists will be able to add their self-driving Tesla to the "Tesla shared fleet," Musk says, which will allow you to generated income when the car isn't being used.
Share this article