The Future of Tesla: All the Cars, Trucks and Vans in the Master Plan
Tesla may have come into prominence with the Tesla Roadster in 2008, but it wasn’t until the Model S took the industry by storm that Tesla became a household name. Since then, Tesla has taken a small automotive company and transformed into a worldwide leader in clean energy solutions to not only the automotive world but also the residential and business worlds as well.
With the success of the Model S and X, and with the “everyman” Model 3 on the way, Tesla is poised to take over the electric vehicle space, currently held by the Renault-Nissan Alliance. As the company moves forward, CEO Elon Musk says that he envisions Tesla as a technology company and independent automaker, and it all continues in the next few years as Tesla revealed their plans for eight vehicle programs all currently at different stages of development.
Tesla Model S – In Production
The Model S needs no introduction, as you can pretty much drive anywhere these days and see at least one on your trip. The Model S is currently in production and has been since 2012. There are no signs of Model S production slowing down has the car currently holds the position as Tesla’s flagship luxury sedan. As long as people are buying them, Tesla will keep pumping them out, and judging by the rate at which the Model S is popping up on roads, I’d say we’re going to be seeing the Model S on the roads for a long time.
Tesla Model X – In Production
The Model S is Tesla’s flagship luxury sedan, so that makes the Model X Tesla’s flagship SUV. The Model X, a full-sized crossover SUV that launched in 2015. While not as major of a seller as the Model S, the Model X still sees a healthy number on the street, with 18,240 units sold in the US through December 2016.
Tesla Model 3 – Late 2017
Perhaps the most intriguing product to come out of Tesla is the upcoming Model 3, the “affordable Tesla.” I put “affordable” in quotes because $35,000 is still no small chunk of change (that’s how much my 2015 Mustang GT Performance Pack cost), but compared to Tesla’s Model S and X, it’s a huge value. The car debuted to great fanfare (I pre-ordered one myself) and production is slated to begin in late 2017, though Tesla’s track record with meeting deadlines leaves a lot to be desired. The start date to the Model 3 production determines the timeline for the following five vehicles.
Tesla Model Y – Late 2018
The upcoming Model Y will do for the Model X what the Model 3 will do for the Model S; that is to say, the Model Y will be a smaller, presumably more affordable small SUV based on the same platform as the Model 3. The Model Y is expected to be Tesla’s top priority once Model 3 production hits its stride.
https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/845281547368349696
Tesla Semi – Late 2018 (Low Volume)
Not much is known about the upcoming Tesla semi except for the fact that it is currently in the pipeline for late 2018. An all-electric, long range semi truck is an incredibly intriguing idea, one that we will learn more about when the public unveiling takes place in September later this year.
https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/852580027178696704
Tesla Roadster Next-Gen – 2019
After tackling the masses with the Model S, X, 3, and the upcoming Model Y, Tesla will return to the car that started it all: the Tesla Roadster. Virtually nothing is known about the next-gen Roadster at this time other than the fact that Musk does intend to make it, and that it will indeed be a convertible.
https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/852581046625345536
Tesla Minibus – 2019
Coming from seemingly out of nowhere, the Tesla microbus is slated for production using the existing Model X chassis. There is no current information on a production start estimate, but building on an existing platform most likely gives it an edge compared to the next model below. The microbus is inspired by the California Custom VW Combi, so expect the hippie van to return in an all electric variety.
https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/755989215976882176
https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/759153112993017856
Tesla Pickup – 2020
In all seriousness, I would have expected the Tesla pickup to be much higher on Tesla’s priority list considering the dominance of pickup truck sales in the US. No concrete info exists on the Tesla pickup except that Musk intend to make an annoucnement within the next two years or so. In the meantime, take a look at the beautiful concept above.
https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/852581322451111936
Thanks to Electrek for the heads up and the release date guesstimates!
