A tweet from Elon Musk, founder and chief executive officer of Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA), has rekindled hopes that a new Tesla Roadster will be released in a few years’ time. This came after a follower asked Musk on social media whether there existed a future possibility of unveiling a new Roadster.
“Some years away, but yes,” Elon Musk tweeted back.
Aside from the latest tweet from Tesla founder, there have been previous indications that the electric automaker was planning on releasing a successor to the Roadster. This included a posting on Tesla’s blog in 2015 which hinted at a next-generation Roadster in 2019.
Flurry of activity
The news comes amidst an increase in the number of projects that Tesla is undertaking. This includes expanding the Fremont plant, the construction of an electric battery factory in Reno, Nevada and the production of a mass-market car, the Model 3. Tesla also plans to build a pickup truck, a bus, and a crossover. Additionally, there will be further development of current products such as the Autopilot, Model X, and Model S.
Compared to the Model S which brought Tesla Motors fame and recognition, the Roadster lacked anything to make it stand out except its handling and acceleration. The blandness of the car was attributable to the fact that it was actually a Lotus Elise being powered by electric power instead of gas. In an earlier interview, Musk had revealed that they regretted the decision to use components of the Lotus since they ended up overhauling almost everything.
First one
Despite the mistaken belief by some that the Model S was the first car manufactured by Tesla, the truth is that Tesla Roadster was the first to roll off the electric carmaker’s plant. Around 2,500 Tesla Roadsters were sold in a period of four years between 2008 and 2012. Initially, the battery charge of the first production cars lasted around 220 miles. With upgrades to the battery packs and motor management software that followed, Tesla was able to extend the range significantly.
In Wednesday’s trading, Tesla Motors Inc rose by 0.10% to close the day at $219.74 a share.