Elon Musk, the outspoken and wildly optimistic CEO of Tesla, has been promising a self-driving car for many years now. However, it’s still not close to happening. During a recent appearance at a Morgan Stanley conference, Musk shared that the US EV maker’s next-gen car will operate “almost entirely in autonomous mode.” This model is expected to be built in Mexico and could come to market as early as next year.
But does this mean that Tesla will offer a very affordable and fully autonomous electric car in 2024? It’s not likely. Back in 2020, Musk claimed that the automaker may be able to deliver a $25,000 fully autonomous vehicle within about the next three years. However, Musk’s more recent statement does not mention the absence of a driver or the driver sleeping. It simply states that the next-gen car will have the ability to be used most often in autonomous mode.
It’s important to keep in mind that Tesla already has some 400,000 EVs “operating mostly in autonomous mode.” This does not necessarily mean that the car is actually considered autonomous, nor does it reflect how often the car will disengage or a person will have to take over. Unless Tesla makes significant progress very quickly, the car will likely still have a steering wheel and pedals. Moreover, the rules will probably still require that there’s a person in the driver’s seat and that the safety driver will still be responsible for the car at all times.
So what do you think when Musk references a car that will operate “almost entirely in autonomous mode”? Do you think Tesla will deliver a fully autonomous EV any time soon? Leave us your thoughts in the comment section below.
FAQ
Q1: Are electric car batteries recyclable?
A1: Yes, electric car batteries are recyclable.
Q2: Are electric car chargers free?
A2: It depends on the charger and the location. Some electric car chargers are free, while others may require a fee.
Q3: Can electric car batteries be rebuilt?
A3: Yes, electric car batteries can be rebuilt with the right tools and knowledge.
