Tesla Planning Electric Public Transport And Semis In Second Master Plan

Some 10 years after releasing Part One of the Tesla Master Plan, Elon Musk has released ‘Part Deux’, which will see the American firm venture into a host of new markets.

In Part One of the Master Plan, Musk detailed how his car company would create a low volume car (the Roadster), use that money to develop a medium volume car (the Model S) and then to use that money to create a high volume car for the masses (the Model 3), all while providing solar power to the masses. Well with all of those ticked off, it’s time for the next step in Tesla’s history.

In the coming years, Tesla will aim to offer a car in all major segments of the automotive world. This will see the release of a compact SUV in the years to come as well as a “new kind of pickup truck”, likely to be the world’s first electric truck.

Musk will then take things even further. Alongside the marque’s consumer vehicles, it will create all-electric heavy-duty trucks and “high passenger-density urban transport”. Both of these solutions should be presented next year with the Tesla Semi intending on slashing the cost of cargo transportation.

Tesla also intends to lead the market in autonomous driving technology. Musk believes that receiving worldwide regulatory approval for completely autonomous vehicles will require up to 6 billion miles of testing. Currently, Autopilot-enabled Tesla models are covering just over 3 million miles per day. Master Plan, Part Deux goes on to defend Autopilot in the midst of recent controversy, stating that even though in its beta stage, it is safer than the average driver. The beta label will only be removed when the system is about 10 times safer than the average U.S. driver.

Additionally, Tesla will rapidly expand its solar panel business and begin offering a ride sharing service for Tesla owners allowing their car’s to be hired out and used to automatically drive people around, essentially earning owners free money.

Unlike the first part of the Master Plan, all elements of the second stage are being developed and tested simultaneously.