Elon Musk says model essential to sustainable energy – but is embarrassed when ‘arm glass’ windows shatter during demo
Teslahas unveiled its first pickup truck, delivering on a promise by Elon Musk to build an electric version of America’s favorite vehicle and take aim at Detroit automakers’ profits.
At a launch event in Los Angeles, the Tesla chief executive said the truck, which looked liked a futuristic armored vehicle, would have a starting price of $ 39, 900 and a maximum range of 500 miles or more.
“We need sustainable energy now. If we don’t have a pickup truck we can’t solve it. The top 3 selling vehicles in America are pickup trucks. To solve sustainable energy we have to have a pickup truck, ”he said.
A demonstration intended to show the strength of the vehicle’s “armor glass” windows went wrong when two windows shattered upon having a metal ball thrown at them.
Tesla says production is expected to begin in late 2021. Musk earlier tweeted the design was partly influenced by the Lotus Esprit sportscar that doubled as a submarine in the 1970 s James Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me .
Tesla’sModel 3 sedanis the world top-selling battery electric car and this is its first foray into pickup trucks, a market dominated by Ford’s F – 150 and competitors from General and Fiat Chrysler.
Tesla has so far sold mostly Model S and Model 3 sedans but also offers the Model X SUV and starting next year the Model Y compact SUV.
Ford and GM are gearing up to challenge Tesla more directly with new offerings like the Ford Mustang Mach E electric SUV as well as electric pickups. Electric pickups and SUVs could help Ford and GM generate the significant EV sales they will need to meet tougher emission standards and EV mandates in California and other states.
With Reuters
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