Elon Musk: Tesla will follow up the Model 3 with a fourth generation, lower-priced electric vehicle

Elon Musk spoke this week at the ‘Future Transport Solutions’ conference in Oslo, Norway. He thanked Norway for their environmentally-friendly stance and for being the world-leader in electric vehicles. After his presentation, Musk sat down with Norway’s Minister of Transport and Communications, Ketil Solvik-Olsen.

Flicker: Samferdselsdepartementet (via Electrek*)

Musk explained that: "Now with the Model 3, our third generation, with much higher economies of scale we've got the Gigafactory and much higher volume production line," Tesla Motors [TSLA] has been able to achieve it's goal of a $35,000 price point. He explained that at this price point "roughly half of people can afford the car." In prior Tesla presentations, the Model 3 has been referred to as Tesla's "third generation" vehicle [see chart below].

Source: Next Big Future via Tesla's 2014 slide presentation from Tesla co-founder and Chief Technical Officer JB Straubel

Of special interest, Musk opens up the possibility for a fourth generation, less expensive electric vehicle from Tesla Motors as a follow-up to the Model 3. Musk elaborates, "I'm super-excited about being able to produce a car that most people can afford. And there will be future cars that are even more affordable down the road, but, with something like the Model 3, it's designed such that roughly half the people will be able to afford the car. Then, with fourth generation and smaller cars, we'll ultimately be in the position where everyone will be able to afford the car." Check out the video below [12 min 12 sec in]...

Source: Every Elon Musk Video2

In addition, as reported in Electrek*, Musk teased an autonomous 'Tesla Mobility' type of service (perhaps along the lines of a self-driving Uber-like service) when he noted: "We have an idea for something which is not exactly a bus, but would solve the density problem in intercity situations. I think we need to rethink the whole concept of public transport and create something that people are actually gonna like a lot more. I don’t want to talk too much about it." It's difficult to ascertain exactly what he's referring to, although he hinted, "There’s a new type of car or vehicle that I think would be really great (to solve vehicle density in cities problem) and actually take people to their final destination and not just to the bus stop."

Flicker: Samferdselsdepartementet (via Electrek*)

Also, prior to speaking at the ‘Future Transport Solutions’ conference in Oslo, Elon Musk spoke briefly with Erna Solberg, Norway’s Prime Minister, about electric vehicles and sustainability (see below). Again, he expressed a heartfelt "I love Norway" and seemed genuinely thankful that Norway has embraced Tesla and electric vehicles with such fervor.

Source: Every Elon Musk Video

It was great to see Tesla CEO Elon Musk so excited about the future for both Tesla Motors and electric vehicles in general. It's no wonder he's so positive -- while smiling, he proclaimed at the conference, "We are now almost at 400,000 orders for the Model 3," and added that the interest in the Model 3 had "surprised even us."

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*Source: Electrek

Posted in Electric Vehicles, Elon Musk, Norway, Tesla, Tesla Model 3, TSLA