While You Were Sleeping: March 18th, 2015
Published: March 18th, 2015
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Despite being unable to introduce the Model X or Model 3 on schedule, Tesla founder Elon Musk predicted that Tesla would be a leader in self-driving cars, and that human driven cars would be outlawed. Naturally, he had to walk that back.
- Musk backtracks on self-driving car comments.
- Over 2000 unsold Teslas are sitting in China.
- A service for buying used cars in China is gaining traction among investors – used cars have traditionally been a smaller part of the market than new cars.
- “Peak car”? Think again. Driving among Americans has actually increased.
- Nissan GT-R tops “most expensive to insure” list.
More by Derek Kreindler
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Musk was a great front man for Tesla during its formative years (though I despise the guy). Now it's time for somebody that actually knows the car business to buy Tesla, or it will go away, and it won't be pretty when it does.
A) Must did NOT 'backtrack'; he never outright stated that self-driven cars WILL be illegal. The term he used was 'may'. B) I agree with that sentiment. With all the nanny systems on cars today, there appears a high likelihood that self-driven cars WILL become mandatory on US streets and highways--in 50 years or so. Most of us will be long retired or dead by then, so it won't matter to us. The average person using cars by then simply won't want to be bothered by such a mundane task as driving. Sure, there will be enthusiasts, but I'll bet the majority even of those will do much as today's bikers and stay off the main throughways, taking less-traveled roads for their fun and letting the nannies handle the everyday commute. Then again, maybe riding a bike will be safer in 50 years just because you won't have idiots behind the wheels of cars who for some reason simply can't see a bike right in front of their bumper.
Self-driving as a means of doing routine trips, getting back and forth to work, etc. that's all fine. Preferably not in those Tesla behemoths that clog up the freeway - something to consider, Mr. Musk. Otherwise, enjoy 'manual drive' on all other trips I'd say.
Elon has apparently not driven into the wilds of even nearby eastern california, where many a street driven truck/suv are taken well back offroad to camp where roads are not always marked all that well nor is there a destination address for your autonomous car to even attempt to get to. Nor has he been a ranch hand/Owner that has to traverse large expanses of non-public back roads, again with no address destination (i.e. lost calf, greeley, co --> can't compute please enter valid address) Autonomous vehicles are welcome by me for commuting and such. They are not and can not be a substitute for many many americans for a long time coming, if ever.