No mirrors? But Y?
Everyone’s favourite EV company Tesla teased its upcoming fourth model at its annual shareholders meeting. The sole teaser image shows an SUV with a bulging bonnet, and no side mirrors.
Previously, Tesla CEO Elon Musk confirmed that the Model Y would be based on the same platform as the impending Model 3 compact saloon. The Y will also pack significantly more powerful computing ability, expected to further the Autopilot’s ability on from its already impressive abilities, furthering Tesla’s push to lead the way in terms of autonomous driving.
Notably, the Model Y teased at the event didn’t show off any side mirrors, suggesting that Tesla believes legislation for cars to drive with side-mirror substitutes (like cameras displaying feeds from either side of the car into the drivers’ line of sight) will fall into place ahead of the 2019/2020 production date that CEO Elon Musk has bandied about in the past.
Once the Model Y joins the S, 3, and X lineup, the marque will go on to produce more utilitarian offerings like an electric cargo van, a ute, and a minibus based on the platform by the Model X SUV. This is part of its ‘Master Plan, Part Deux’ strategy that aims to take its lead on driving autonomy (that it hopes to have by then) and revolutionise the public transport sector with self-driving mobility.
Tesla’s CEO also has dreams of a car-sharing platform, aimed to maximise the use of cars rather than leave them parked up outside a house or in a carpark for hours on end, which leans heavily on legislators putting into place the laws permitting self-driving cars to operate fully-autonomously. That would, in theory, allow your Tesla motorcar to Uber for you when you’re not using it.
“Since most cars are only in use by their owner for 5% to 10% of the day, the fundamental economic utility of a true self-driving car is likely to be several times that of a car which is not,” he said. While it’s all well and good that your car may be able to maximise its lifetime by working even when you’re not, how comfortable would you be with your car heading out at odd hours for a weird rendezvous?
