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Tesla Master Plan pt. 2 explains how everyone gets an electric car
Back in 2006 Elon Musk casually revealed the plans for what Tesla Motors has mostly accomplished in the decade since, and now (after some teasing) he's back with part two. While the original "Secret Tesla Motors Master Plan" explained how the company's vision extended beyond its Roadster to cars that would become the Model S and Model 3, what's next is even bigger. Besides adding a compact SUV and pickup truck to its model line, don't expect to see any Tesla's coming out that are cheaper than the Model 3. Instead, as Musk envisions, the rollout of fully self-driving automobiles will allow owners to put their car to work when they're not using it, and make ownership economically viable for anyone (of course, it's worth noting that car companies like Ford and GM are working on similar plans of their own).
Police confirm DVD player found in Tesla Autopilot wreck
A day after we learned that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is investigating a fatal crash involving Tesla's Autopilot feature, more details have emerged. The Florida Highway Patrol confirmed to Reuters that a portable DVD player was found in the wreckage. The driver of the truck that was crossing the highway when it was struck by the Model S told the Associated Press that the driver was playing a Harry Potter movie at the time. He said he could he could hear it playing after the car hit a telephone pole further down the road.
Elon Musk's companies team up: Tesla offers to buy SolarCity
Tesla Motors and SolarCity have always had a close link (Elon Musk is the chairman of both companies, and SolarCity was founded by two of his cousins -- the Wall Street Journal breaks down the crossover here) but now they may come under one roof. They already pair up on charging stations and power for off-grid homes, but Tesla is offering to acquire the energy company, saying it wants to provide its customers with access to the "most sustainable energy source available: the sun." Soon, you might be able to shop for solar panels, home batteries and an electric car all in one place.
Musk: Tesla will do 'the obvious thing' for Autopilot on Model 3
Tonight during an interview at the Code Conference, Elon Musk shared his thoughts on everything from The Martian to AI (he's only worried about one unnamed tech company when it comes to AI, maybe we should Google the answer) to the current presidential race. Most notably however, he mentioned Tesla is planning another Model 3 event this year, saying it's already notched over 400,000 preorders and the design should be done in about six more weeks. Pressed for an answer by Walt Mossberg and Kara Swisher on the availability of Autopilot on the $35,000 base model, Musk would only say "we'll do the obvious thing." You can watch the interview below for more details on things like why SpaceX lands its rockets at sea and its launch schedule for the next few years.
Tesla's Destination Charging network expands to Europe
By the end of 2017, Tesla hopes to have doubled the size its Supercharger network. It wants more than 1,200 locations and 7,000 individual chargers dotted throughout North America, Europe and Asia, which will go some way towards reducing range anxiety. Before that becomes a reality, the company is hoping to extend the number of official charging points with its free Destination Charging network. Available in the US and Asia for some time now, Destination Chargers are located in easy-to-access locations like hotels or restaurants to give you a quick juice between journeys. Now, they're rolling out across Europe.
Tesla will let you spec out a Model X starting Monday
Sure, all of the excitement is around Tesla's $35k+ Model 3, but what about the Model X SUV? It's slowly starting to hit the road, and CEO Elon Musk claimed (in a since deleted tweet) that the SUV's configurator will open to all on Monday.
Elon Musk says this is 'part 1' of the Tesla Model 3 reveal
If you're ready for Tesla's $35,000 electric vehicle and have $1,000 ready to put down, then your day has dawned -- at least in Australia. Elon Musk tweeted a pic of the Model 3 pre-order line down under where it's already March 31st, while the rest of us get ready for the company's LA event tomorrow night at 11:30PM ET. Of course we'll be on hand for what he says is just "part 1 of the Model 3 unveil," with a part 2 scheduled for closer to its production in late 2017. In yet another tweet, Musk promised a follower we will "see the car very clearly, but some important elements will be added and some will evolve." Update: Check out all the details from the Model 3 unveiling (like news that there were 115,000 pre-orders before any had even seen the car) right here.
Elon Musk: You can reserve a Model 3 starting March 31st
Even though Elon Musk said earlier today that he's not sure how much of Tesla's Model 3 will be unveiled next month, you'll still be able to get in line right away. Musk (shown above posing in front of a Model S during its 2009 debut event) just tweeted that Model 3 reservations will be accepted at Tesla stores on March 31st, and online starting April 1st. You'll need to put $1,000 down towards the car's price, which will start at $35,000 before any incentives are applied.
Tesla will unveil its $35,000 Model 3 on March 31st
Tesla has long promised a $35,000 electric car is on the way, and in today's earnings release (PDF) it announced that we'll get to see the Model 3 on March 31st, ahead of it going on sale in "late 2017." That's in addition to the currently shipping Model S sedan (shown above) and Model X SUV, and the company recently confirmed it still expects to hit that $35k price target before applying electric vehicle incentives. Also, its battery building gigafactory -- key to achieving that mass market price for the Model 3 -- is up and running in Nevada, with Powerwall units produced there already in use by customers.
Tesla quietly drops the Model S 85 series in the UK
Most Brits can't afford to buy a Tesla, but for those that can deciding which particular model to go with is now a little easier. The electric car company has quietly slimmed down its Model S range in the UK, pulling the all-wheel drive 85D, the performance-enhanced P85D and the rear-wheel drive 90. Now, drivers on the island are limited to four different configurations -- the rear-wheel drive 70, the all-wheel drive 70D and 90D, and the top-tier P90D. There's also the optional "Ludicrous Speed" upgrade that pushes the P90D's 0-60mph time down to 2.8 seconds.
Tesla Autopilot promo shows what it can do for your commute
Why let fans make the videos when you can do it yourself? Tesla Motors just made public a new video -- if it ever runs as a TV ad, it could be the company's first one -- promoting its Autopilot feature that does a lot of the driving on its own. Now, there have been some (mostly driver caused) hiccups in the rollout, other cars have some similar features and the ability to summon your car from NY to LA is still pending. But, the video does do a realistic job of showing what Autopilot is actually capable of: hit Summon, the car turns on and pulls out of the garage, leading to hassle-free driving on a closed-access highway with automated lane changes, with self parallel parking at the end. In the video it doesn't seem to show the driver actually letting go of the wheel, which is also probably a good call. Elon Musk says Autopilot is a "super high priority" and now Tesla is making sure people know about it.
Tesla's cheapest Model X is priced at $80,000
If you don't mind waiting on delivery, the Tesla Model X is now on sale to the public. Like the Model S before it, there's three different versions to choose, but the 70D starts at $80,000 -- before incentives like federal (and possibly state) tax credits. The 70D has an estimated range of 220 miles and a top speed of 140 mph, while the 90D runs to 257 miles, with a 155-mph top speed. The P90D (the first Model X that'll arrive in early 2016), reduces the range to 250 miles, but will hit 0-60 mph in 3.8 seconds (or 3.2 if you're feeling Ludicrous). While we don't have the pricing on all the models, Tesla has shared some of the configuration prices. They're all outlined after the break, but regardless of you make it your own, expect the cheaper 90D and 70D models to land mid- and late 2016.
Tesla may build cars in China within the next two years
Tesla Motors primarily manufactures its cars in California, but CEO Elon Musk intends to change that. As reported by The Wall Street Joural Musk said that Tesla will start building autos in China as a way to offer its cars to the country at lower prices. He believes that a local production facility could cut the cost of Tesla cars by a third due to significantly reduced shipping costs and the lack of import fees. Of course, Musk's plan is easier said than done: China prevents foreign car makers from running manufacturing plants without a Chinese partner, so Tesla will need to buddy up with someone in the country to make its plans work.
Consumer Reports drops its Tesla Model S recommendation
Once upon a time, Consumer Reports gave the Tesla Model S P85D its highest rating ever, but the love affair is over, for now. While it still loves the way the sedan drives, the review organization has concluded after its Annual Auto Reliability Survey that reports from 1,400 owners show the cars have a "worse-than-average overall problem rate." While it also noted that these problems are mostly covered by Tesla's four year/50,000 mile bumper-to-bumper warranty or its eight year, unlimited mileage powertrain warranty, it still decided the vehicle isn't deserving of its "Recommended" rating. In response, Tesla says it strives to make hardware fixes "painless," and noted that the study also found owners rated the company's service as the best in the world.
Here's how to watch Tesla's Model X launch event
After dealing with many production delays over the past couple of years, Tesla's finally ready to launch the Model X, its highly anticipated crossover. Later this evening, the company will hold an event at a factory in Fremont, California, where it is expected to make the latest member of the Tesla family official. Yes, there's a lot we know about this electric vehicle already, but tonight we'll likely learn details that were previously unknown -- such as availability and how far it can go on a charge. The announcement is set for 8PM PT/11PM ET, and you can watch it live on Tesla's website.
Tesla's Powerwall is already sold out through middle of 2016
On Tesla's quarterly earnings call, CEO Elon Musk announced "crazy off the hook" demand for its just-announced Powerwall battery product. He said over 38,000 reservations have been received, which should take up the expected production through mid-2016, and demand is high enough to account for all of the Gigafactory's production if they devoted it just to stationary batteries. That includes some 2,500 companies that are interested in the commercial-ready Powerpack (with orders averaging around 10 units each), and Musk said he estimates that commercial interest in Tesla Energy will account for 5-10 more megawatt hours than residential. To clear up one question about the Powerwall, he mentioned that while it doesn't have a DC-to-AC inverter included, it does have a DC-to-DC unit built in. Update: It wasn't mentioned on the call, but Tesla also confirmed its first acquisition today, snatching up Michigan-based part manufacturer Riviera Tool.
Tesla built 35,000 cars last year, preps for Model X launch
While Elon Musk keeps his eye on a SpaceX rocket launch this evening, his car company just released its financial data for the last year. Tesla met its goal of building 35,000 cars in 2014, but says some shipments were held back as a result of launching the shockingly-fast AWD P85D Model S. Beyond the numbers, the company is raising its goal for next year to 55,000 vehicles, including the Model X SUV it says is still on track to arrive in Q3. There are about 30 Model X vehicles in testing now, while Release Candidates are slated for March. The only bad news? Its $1.1 billion in revenue for the quarter was lower than analysts expected, and operating expenses doubled from the same period last year. The company's earnings call is scheduled to take place at 7:30PM ET, and if there's any news from that we will let you know. Update: On the call, Musk mentioned that Tesla's battery for homes and businesses will launch in the next month or two.
Elon Musk: Tesla will make 'millions' of cars per year by 2025
While the Auto Show's press preview events are winding down, it's time for the Automotive News World Congress to take over, and tonight it featured a sit-down with Elon Musk. During the interview, Musk answered questions about everything from, "Where is the Model X?" (coming this summer) to whether or not he's a good boss (The Wall Street Journal says no; Musk says "not all the time.") He said that he expects Tesla's production to reach millions of cars per year by 2025, which is part of the reason he's focusing on the Gigafactory -- more battery production will be needed first. ("If it doesn't drive down the cost of batteries, I should be fired," says Musk.) First, however, he expects the company will be profitable by about 2020. You can check out some of the quotes collected in tweets after the break, or read impressions posted by the Detroit Free Press, Autoblog or The Verge.
Tesla delays Model X again, aims for Q3 2015
Tucked into Tesla Motor's Q3 2014 earnings letter to its shareholders, the automaker announced that its Model X SUV had been delayed once again. First slated to hit the road in 2013, and then pushed to 2014 before another bump to early 2015, the company's electric SUV won't roll off of the assembly line until the second half of next year. Thanks to the new Dual Motor drive on the Model S, the powertrain for the X is said to be nearly done; however, more testing is needed elsewhere. In the letter, CEO Elon Musk admitted that criticism in regards to the varying timelines is valid, but that Tesla won't trot out the vehicle until it's ready to properly "delight customers."
Riding shotgun in Tesla's fastest car ever
Tesla's "D" unveiling had a little early reveal thanks to USA Today but now we've had a chance to see it for ourselves. As rumored, Tesla is rolling out new all-wheel-drive-equipped versions of its Model S (check out our review of the original here). The top-of-the-line, dual-motor-equipped P85D has a measured 0-60 time of 3.2 seconds, which should put it among the fastest sedans ever when it starts shipping in December. According to Elon Musk, the system is a "huge improvement" that actually adds efficiency over a single motor -- about 10 miles in range per charge. That's apparently because there's no shaft between the front and rear axles, and the motors constantly adjust output so well that the car overcomes the weight of the second engine. Update: Musk revealed the truth about D's dual-motor setup, and then we rode along in the P85D. Check out the video and details after the break!
