Elon Musk Launches ‘Top Secret Tesla Masterplan’ To Escape Current Autopilot Funk
Tesla Motors could use a bit of positive publicity to offset the recent scrutiny over its autonomous vehicle technology. What better way to do that than to hint at something awesome (and super secret) through social media? Tesla co-founder and product architect Elon Musk attempted to do just that by referencing a "Tesla masterplan" on Twitter.
"Working on top secret Telsa masterplan, part two. Hoping to publish later this week," Musk tweeted out over the weekend. His tweet elicited a bevy of guesses and humorous responses on Twitter, some of the former being a flying car and an Iron Man suit. As for the latter, one witty individual responded, "No spoilers please. I am a season behind on Elon Musk."
The tweet comes as Tesla as the NHTSA and NTSB both indicated they're investigating a fatal accident involving a 2015 Model S that was operating in Autopilot mode at the time of the crash. A beta feature, Autopilot mode is supposed to assist with driving by using an array of sensors to keep the vehicle in its lane, drive at a certain speed, and avoid collisions.
Unfortunately the system failed when an 18-wheeler crossed in front of a Model S on a divided highway. It's believed that the white siding on the tractor trailer wasn't detected against a brightly lit sky. Neither the Autopilot mode or the driver applied the brake.
The secret announcement also comes as Tesla attempts to acquire SolarCity, another company Musk co-founded, for $2.8 billion. Tesla and SolarCity have already partnered on several projects, including the use of Tesla's lithium-ion battery packs in some of of SolarCity's solar projects.
"Working on top secret Telsa masterplan, part two. Hoping to publish later this week," Musk tweeted out over the weekend. His tweet elicited a bevy of guesses and humorous responses on Twitter, some of the former being a flying car and an Iron Man suit. As for the latter, one witty individual responded, "No spoilers please. I am a season behind on Elon Musk."
The tweet comes as Tesla as the NHTSA and NTSB both indicated they're investigating a fatal accident involving a 2015 Model S that was operating in Autopilot mode at the time of the crash. A beta feature, Autopilot mode is supposed to assist with driving by using an array of sensors to keep the vehicle in its lane, drive at a certain speed, and avoid collisions.
Unfortunately the system failed when an 18-wheeler crossed in front of a Model S on a divided highway. It's believed that the white siding on the tractor trailer wasn't detected against a brightly lit sky. Neither the Autopilot mode or the driver applied the brake.
The secret announcement also comes as Tesla attempts to acquire SolarCity, another company Musk co-founded, for $2.8 billion. Tesla and SolarCity have already partnered on several projects, including the use of Tesla's lithium-ion battery packs in some of of SolarCity's solar projects.
