Elon Musk Confirms Tesla Model Y, Elaborates on Plans for Electric Minibus
Model Y will share a platform with the Model 3
It's long been rumored Tesla would name one of its vehicles "Model Y," and now we finally know what form it will take. Taking to Twitter over the weekend, Elon Musk revealed plans for a Tesla Model Y compact SUV that will sit on the same chassis as the Model 3.
In its "Master Plan, Part Deux" announcement on July 20, Tesla made no announcement on the Model Y. But it did mention plans for a "future compact SUV." The plan also touched on electric buses, and Musk elaborated on that subject on Twitter, confirming that Tesla is working on a minibus that will sit on the same platform as the Model X SUV.
"The Tesla Minibus will be built on a Model X chassis," Musk revealed. "People density potential is surprisingly high."
Tesla said that the new "high passenger-density urban transport" vehicle is currently in the early stages of development. Tesla hinted it would feature autonomous driving capabilities and would be able to take people all the way to their destinations unlike current buses. Alongside a heavy-duty semi truck, the passenger bus should be ready to debut next year.
After one Twitter user suggested Tesla should name the bus "Model B," Musk hinted the vehicle would take a different naming direction. "I think we should be inconsistent in our naming conventions after Model Y," Musk tweeted.
Source: Elon Musk via Twitter
When I tell people I write about cars, the most common reply I receive is “Really?” I guess I never strike people as a car type as I drive down the freeway in the right lane going 60 mph in my old SUV. My gripes about driving in city traffic and fast drivers don’t help my case, either. For a time, the only cars I liked were old cars. Not old as in "classic" or "vintage," but as in well-worn. My first appreciation of cars came when I drove a very old Ford pickup. It wasn't perfect: I used a booster seat to reach the gas pedal, and the turn signal once fell off in my hand as I was learning to drive. But the thing I valued most was the memories. It took several years for me to truly become a "car person." Being a long-time writer and an avid reader has helped me develop a healthy curiosity and a desire to know how things work. This has made cars one of the most fascinating points of study for me because they are such intricate machines. I am interested in how cars can reach 200 mph, how they can run on hydrogen, and how they can drive and park on their own. I also enjoy learning how cars can solve problems whether it be in the form of reducing pollution, minimizing traffic, or helping people stay connected on the road. Yes, maybe I’m not a gearhead. Perhaps I’m a car nerd. Either way, I very much enjoy writing about cars and helping people stay in tune with the automotive industry. I wouldn't want to be writing about anything else. And don’t get me wrong: I know how to drool over a hot car. I am fascinated by the Tesla Model S, awed by the Lamborghini Veneno, and am hopelessly obsessed with the Audi R8.
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