Elon Musk confirmed that a “next-generation low-cost” Tesla EV is in development and is “optimistic” that it will be released in the second half of 2025, he said on an earnings call yesterday. He also promised “a revolutionary manufacturing system” for the vehicle that is far more advanced than any other in the world by “a significant distance.”
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According to a Reuters, the new vehicle will be a small crossover codenamed “Redwood.” Tesla appears to have sent out requests for proposals to suppliers, projecting a weekly production volume of 10,000 vehicles. Musk had previously said the automaker is working on two new electric vehicle models that could sell up to 5 million per year.
Musk said the company's new manufacturing technique will be "very difficult to copy" because "you have to copy the machine that makes the machine that makes the machine... dream-level manufacturing." He added that, as before, the new line could start slowly before production ramps up significantly.
It warned shareholders of “significantly lower” sales growth for 2024 as strong demand for the Model 3 and Model Y begins to wane. The company predicts a second sales surge that will begin with next-generation vehicles arriving in 2025.
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Musk also addressed Tesla’s progress with FSD (fully autonomous driving), noting that other “car companies should be applying for FSD licenses” and adding that the reasons “will likely become apparent within the current year.” Musk has made similarly optimistic predictions about FSD in the past, but it remains at Level 2 capability. Meanwhile, rival Mercedes-Benz recently gained Level 3 approval in the United States.
As Musk admitted, the production forecast “has to be taken with a grain of salt, as I’m often optimistic… in terms of timing.” He was accurate when he said the Model 3 would arrive in 2017, but he was very wrong about the $35,000 price tag. If this story holds true, the next-generation model could arrive on time, but it could take a while for the price to come down.
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Tesla has pioneered many areas of the automotive industry. One of them is technology . Tesla cars are known for their excellent range, with some models able to cover over 600 kilometers on a single charge.
Tesla has also developed Autopilot, which allows the car to drive autonomously in many conditions. This technology uses a combination of sensors, radar, and cameras to recognize the car's surroundings and make driving decisions.
Tesla also offers V2G (Vehicle-to-Grid) technology, which allows cars to return energy to the grid when not in use. This can help balance the grid and provide additional income for car owners.
Finally, Tesla has developed Over-the-Air (OTA) update technology , which allows the company to send software updates directly to cars . This means cars can receive new features and improvements without the need for a physical visit to a workshop.
Source: engadget
