Tesla’s latest automobile, the Mannequin Y midsize crossover, is already the automaker’s greatest promoting car by income, he mentioned, and in 2023 could be the quantity chief.
The Mannequin Y, with about 40,000 gross sales in Europe by June, already barely outsold the Mannequin Three sedan, in accordance with market analyst firm Dataforce.
Tesla’s most anticipated new mannequin, the Cybertruck, is scheduled to start out manufacturing in Texas in the midst of subsequent 12 months, he mentioned, with the primary manufacturing gear to be put in within the coming months.
Musk mentioned the pricing and specs for the Cybertruck had modified since reservations opened in 2019, as a consequence of inflation and different exterior elements.
“So much has modified since then,” he mentioned, including that there was no method to anticipate inflation.
Musk mentioned that the worst of the present surge in inflation was most likely previous, given Tesla’s monitoring of commodity costs, however a “average” recession was most likely in retailer for the U.S. that might final 18 months.
“We’re seeing in most of our commodities — greater than half — the costs are trending down in six months,” he mentioned, “which suggests we’re previous peak inflation.”
In distinction to the Lehman Brothers disaster of 2008, the basics of the U.S. financial system stay robust, he mentioned.
“I believe inflation will drop quickly, and we’ll have a gentle to average recession within the subsequent 18 months,” Musk mentioned.
Musk touched on different matters on the assembly, which was held on the Texas manufacturing facility. Amongst them:
- Manufacturing: Musk mentioned the important thing to Tesla’s long-term profitability is its manufacturing technique, which goals to rethink how automobiles are constructed. He pointed to the “Giga Press,” which casts structural components in single piece aluminum that may change tons of of particular person welded metal components. “Everybody may have EVs and ultimately all automobiles will probably be self driving, however the factor that will probably be hardest to duplicate is Tesla’s manufacturing technique,” he mentioned.
- Self-driving: Tesla hopes to have widespread Full Self-Driving (its highest stage of driver help, which nonetheless requires the motive force to concentrate) beta testing obtainable this 12 months within the U.S., though Mercedes has already acquired approval in Germany for its personal “Degree 3” self-driving system. “We have made some fairly important architectural enhancements” within the system, Musk mentioned, pointing to advances in making advanced left turns throughout visitors.
- CEO succession: With a long-term product highway map, Musk mentioned, “Tesla would proceed to do very nicely even when I used to be kidnapped by aliens.” “I intend to stick with Tesla so long as I will be helpful,” he added. “The corporate has a really vivid future even with out me.”
