It’s a high-stakes race to the future of driving — where your car drives you — and humans are “permanent backseat drivers” on a road full of electric, driverless taxis.
While it still sounds like a futuristic fantasy to some, in Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s world, fantasy becomes reality and the future is now.
With a master plan aimed at commercializing electric vehicles and spearheading autonomous car tech, the car maker known for bold claims and aggressive timetables is setting out to revolutionize the transportation industry.
And while the market remains small, Tesla’s ambitions continue to fly though the (solar) roof. As Elon Musk hands over the keys to Tesla’s future, one question remains: Are we there yet?
In this episode of The Abstract, we discuss what the future holds for electric cars and autonomous driving technology.
Our first story examines Tesla’s “master plan” — an ambitious document published in the summer of 2016 aimed at setting the company's course for the coming years. Four years in, and nearly halfway through the original document's lifespan, Tesla's lofty goals called for big strides in sustainable energy and autonomous driving, as well as broader mass market reach with electric vehicles. While the future remains unclear, can Tesla’s unwavering optimism continue to lead the way?
Our second story is about Tesla’s crossover all-electric vehicle, the Model Y. It has the functionality of an SUV but rides like a sports car, and Elon Musk expects it to be the safest SUV in the world by far. With a winning combination of performance, price, and technology, could the Model Y finally drive Tesla into the mainstream market?
Read the original Inverse stories:
- Tesla’s master plan is 4 years old: How Elon Musk is doing on EVs and more
- Tesla Model Y design tweaks coming as Musk predicts “best-selling car”
Where to find us:
- Subscribe to The Abstract wherever you listen to podcasts: iTunes | Spotify | TuneIn | RadioPublic | Stitcher
- Follow Mike Brown on Twitter
- Follow Inverse on Twitter
- We're hosted and produced by Tanya Bustos
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Right now, facts and science matter more than ever. That's part of the reason for The Abstract, this all-new podcast from the Inverse staff that focuses exclusively on science and innovation. Three new episodes are released a week, and each covers one theme via two related stories. Each features audio of original Inverse reporting, where the facts and context take center stage. It's hosted by the Tanya Bustos of WSJ Podcasts. Because we're Inverse, it's all true but slightly off-kilter. It's made for people who want to know the whole story. —Nick Lucchesi, executive editor, Inverse
