Tesla is set to introduce a ride services program similar to Uber and plans on fully detailing the service in 2017.
The service was first announced by the automaker’s chief executive Elon Musk in his second master plan released in July and on Wednesday, further details were offered alongside the announcement of Tesla’s improved Autopilot system.
In a statement mentioning the planned ‘Tesla Network’, the firm said “Please note that using a self-driving Tesla for car sharing and ride hailing for friends and family is fine, but doing so for revenue purposes will only be permissible on the Tesla Network, details of which will be released next year.”
Tesla’s ride services network will make it the first volume automaker to create and run its own ride-sharing service. Others, such as General Motors, have instead invested in existing companies like Lyft.
Reuters points out that that the Tesla Network could prove costly for the brand as Lyft and Uber are known for spending billions in price wars to secure dominance in particular markets.
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