Tesla could press China joint venture in 2017, but face headwinds in Trump’s America
New innovations, models and markets: 11 things to expect from Elon Musk next year
Tesla started 2016 as a maker of electric cars that had branched out into energy storage. By the end of the year, Elon Musk’s company has become a carmaker, an energy company, the builder of a massive battery factory in Nevada, and a solar company through its acquisition of SolarCity.
Tesla was also on track to delivery about 80,000 vehicles in 2016, more than ever before. So it was a big year. But 2017 will be even bigger. Here are some of the major innovations Tesla has in store for the year ahead.
Launch of the Model 3
Tesla’s mass-market vehicle, which will be priced at around US$30,000 in the US after tax breaks and will serve up 200 miles (322km) of range on a single charge, is scheduled to launch in late 2017. There’s scepticism about whether Tesla will be able to meet that goal, but the Model 3 should be far easier to build than the delayed Model X SUV was.
Make no mistake – this is Tesla’s most important execution point of the entire year. Bringing in the Model 3 on time will vindicate Musk’s promises, vision and ambitions. The vehicle will also enable Tesla to start fulfilling the nearly 400,000 pre-orders that have come in for the vehicle. Interested buyers put down US$1,000 each to reserve a Model 3.