Tesla CEO Elon Musk confirmed throughout the firm’s most up-to-date Earnings Name on Wednesday that the automaker has “different merchandise” being developed. In fact, Musk didn’t shed any element on them, however primarily based on what the corporate may want, and what others have mentioned up to now, we have now an concept of what they might be.
Musk mentioned:
“I also needs to say that there — we have now different merchandise in improvement. We’re not going to announce them, clearly, however they’re very thrilling. And I believe it’ll blow individuals’s minds after they — after we reveal them. Tesla has essentially the most thrilling product street map of any firm on earth by an extended shot.”
A Tesla Van
A Tesla Van is likely to be within the product roadmap, particularly as Musk has hinted towards the concept on a number of events. In late 2018, Musk acknowledged that it might be “fascinating to work with Daimler/Mercedes on an electrical Sprinter.”
In early 2021, Musk reiterated this level whereas talking on the This fall and Full Yr 2020 Earnings Name, stating, “I believe Tesla is certainly going to make an electrical van in some unspecified time in the future.”
Whereas a Tesla Van is likely to be an awesome concept for some private purposes, this might be one thing that will undoubtedly be used as a business automobile. To today, Sprinter vans are utilized by a wide range of firms, from auto elements shops, to automobile detailing companies. Nevertheless, Tesla might discover the most important software for it internally.
(Credit score: teslaguru2/Instagram)
Nonetheless using some Ford Transit vans and a few Mannequin S and Mannequin X autos, amongst others, for its Cell Service fleet, Tesla would undoubtedly see a number of benefits from growing a van. For one, Tesla nonetheless struggles with Service, particularly at bodily places. With the corporate delivering over 1.3 million automobiles final yr and solely rising its Retailer and Service places by 120 this previous yr, or ten a month, Cell Service might be the corporate’s key to bettering its general effectiveness.
The Cell Service fleet grew 24 p.c in 2022 in comparison with 2021, with 303 extra items added final yr alone. Nevertheless, this might doubtless enhance additional if Tesla developed and constructed its personal Service autos, and let’s face it, they’d be way more cost-effective than leasing costly Service places.
A Tesla Van would additionally enter a market with comparatively small quantities of competitors. At the moment, the E-Transit holds 73 p.c of the section, with 6,500 gross sales final yr. Providing solely 236 miles of vary in its Customized providing, the E-Transit might be challenged by a Tesla Van.
A ‘Extra Conventional’ Pickup
This one is a little bit of an extended shot, but it surely may undoubtedly nonetheless occur. Musk acknowledged in an interview with Automotive Information in 2020 that if the Tesla Cybertruck was a flop, the corporate may develop a extra “conventional” pickup design.
“If it seems no person desires to purchase a weird-looking truck, we’ll construct a traditional truck, no downside,” he mentioned.
An artist’s render of the Tesla Pickup Truck. (Credit score: Emre Husman)
With over one million pre-orders at the moment, it doesn’t appear as if Tesla will do that, a minimum of not any time within the close to future. Nevertheless, Chief Designer Franz von Holzhausen, who confirmed the Cybertruck design was finalized, did state Tesla by no means actually places a “pencils down” strategy to the topic.
Whereas the entire concept behind the Cybertruck was to interrupt the mould of conventional pickup designs, some might wish to proceed with Tesla’s experience in EVs whereas having one thing barely extra “regular.” However, in my estimation, don’t maintain your breath.
A Tesla Boat
With regard to Tesla’s “ecological paradise,” Musk advised us in September that the corporate filed to broaden Gigafactory Texas from the southern portion to make manner for this undertaking. Guests would be capable of float down the Colorado River to downtown Austin.
However as an alternative of Tesla Kayaks, Musk mentioned the corporate may develop “electrical Tesla boats with a retro-futuristic Victorian design.”
Musk has already hinted that the Cybertruck will doubtless be capable of float and navigate via water, a minimum of to an extent. Nevertheless, it appears that evidently a ship might be developed for a minimum of the corporate’s inside initiatives, just like the “ecological paradise” it plans to construct outdoors of the Texas Gigafactory.
$25,000 Mass-Market Sedan
Closely rumored as a Tesla undertaking for a number of years, the $25,000 automobile is the corporate’s key to mass affordability for a lot of customers.
When Chevrolet introduced big cuts on the Bolt EV and EUV final yr, it turned one of the crucial reasonably priced EVs you should purchase, and it was a automobile that was acknowledged as a serious needle mover when it comes to EV adoption just because it confirmed customers that you simply don’t should spend upwards of $40,000 on an EV.
Credit score: Alwinart/Twitter
Nevertheless, the automobile is just not a rumor, and it’s undoubtedly one thing Tesla is trying towards growing quickly. Musk mentioned final yr:
“Effectively, we’re not at the moment engaged on the — on a $25,000 automobile. We — you understand, in some unspecified time in the future, we’ll, however we have now sufficient on our plate proper now, an excessive amount of on our plate, frankly. So, you understand, in some unspecified time in the future, there will likely be.”
The $25,000 Tesla will doubtless be part of the corporate’s next-gen platform, which will likely be mentioned throughout the Investor Day on March 1. Musk as soon as once more confirmed throughout the This fall and Full Yr 2022 Earnings Name that this will likely be on the agenda for the occasion.
What gained’t occur: a Tesla Motorbike
Whereas Tesla did unveil a Tesla CyberATV on the Cybertruck occasion in 2019, Musk mentioned Tesla won’t ever develop an electrical bike.
“I had a street bike till I used to be 17 and was virtually killed by a truck,” Musk mentioned. “So we’re not going to do bikes.”
The Backside Line
In fact, we already know Tesla is growing a new model of the Mannequin 3 inside Mission Highland. Whereas this might be extra of an inside revamp than something, simply because the Mannequin S and Mannequin X refreshes had been, there are undoubtedly loads of issues within the works.
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