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forthcoming biography chronicling the life of Tesla's CEO, Elon Musk, has unveiled fresh insights into the highly anticipated entry-level vehicle from the American electric car manufacturer. The upcoming biography, authored by Walter Isaacson after two years of close observation of Musk, suggests that Tesla's budget-friendly model, set to be priced below $25,000 USD (approximately $39,000 AUD), will adopt a design reminiscent of the distinctive Cybertruck, rather than the streamlined aesthetics of the Model 3 and Model Y.
The aspiration to introduce an affordable Tesla model has been on the company's radar since 2020, yet specific details regarding its design remained shrouded in secrecy due to Tesla's typically tight-lipped approach.
A revelation in the biography, aptly titled "ElonMusk," suggests that Tesla engineers initially envisioned the entry-level vehicle as fully autonomous, devoid of a conventional steering wheel. However, practical considerations, including legal restrictions on fully autonomous vehicles in certain markets, compelled the engineers to persuade Musk to incorporate traditional steering, pedals, and mirrors into the design.
The biography excerpt, which was published by Axios, quotes Franz von Holzhausen, Tesla's head designer, as he recounts the efforts undertaken to convince Musk of the feasibility of manufacturing both the new model and an autonomous "Robotaxi" on the same production line. Von Holzhausen expresses, "We convinced him (Elon Musk) that if we build these factories and we have this platform, we could churn out both Robotaxis and a $25,000 car, all on the same vehicle architecture," as recounted in the upcoming book.
The biography excerpt further hints at the sub-$25,000 vehicle, informally referred to by enthusiasts as the 'Model 2' (although it may not adopt this name in production), embracing a design aesthetic reminiscent of the Cybertruck, with the 'Robotaxi' sharing a similar style. In an anecdote from Mr. Isaacson's book, it is noted, "At a design review session one afternoon in February 2023, von Holzhausen put models of the Robotaxi and the $25,000 car next to each other in the studio. Both had a Cybertruck futuristic feel. Musk loved the designs. 'When one of these comes around a corner,' he said, 'people will think they are seeing something from the future.'"
Contrary to previous plans to commence production of theTesla 'Model 2' and the Robotaxi at a new factory in Mexico, it is now reported that these vehicles will begin production at a facility near Tesla's headquarters in Austin, Texas. This strategic shift aims to facilitate closer oversight by engineers. Although unverified reports from China suggest production may commence around 2025.
In addition to delving into the technical aspects of Tesla's new vehicles, the biography will explore Elon Musk's polarising leadership style, including discussions surrounding the decision to produce the more conventional 'Model 2' alongside the Robotaxi. Musk's resolute stance on autonomy is encapsulated in the book, with a passage recounting his words during a pivotal meeting with Tesla executives: "No mirrors, no pedals, no steering wheel. This is me taking responsibility for this decision. [...] It's my fault if it f--ks up. But we are not going to design some sort of amphibian frog that's a halfway car. We are all in on autonomy."
Recently, Tesla unveiled a face lifted version of its ground breaking electric sedan, the Model 3, which is expected to continue its strong sales performance alongside the company's popular Model Y electric SUV.
