When Elon Musk’s “The Secret Tesla Motors Master Plan (just between you and me)” got here out in August 2006, it was praised as a “success story” that outlined Tesla’s objectives to construct an electrical sports activities automobile, then extra reasonably priced electrical automobiles (EVs).
Now the grasp plan, and its July 2016 follow-up “Master Plan Part Deux,” which added a technological enhance with objectives for an autopilot mode safer than human driving, are nowhere to be discovered on Tesla’s web site.
In the meantime, Tesla’s 2023 Master Plan Part 3, a 41-page paper — denser and fewer conversational — than the sooner variations, remains to be on the location. And Musk introduced in June that he was engaged on a yet-to-be-released Tesla Master Plan 4.
The earliest weblog publish on Tesla’s web site now dates again to 2019, a report that captures only a fraction of the corporate’s over 20-year history.
The erasing of Musk’s authentic plans, first spotted by Forbes earlier this week, has led some to speculate that Tesla is wiping out its own history or putting space between itself and its early environmental objectives. Particularly now that its CEO publicly supports presidential candidate Donald Trump.
Tesla dealership in Smithtown, New York. Picture Credit score: John Paraskevas/Newsday RM through Getty Pictures
Musk’s 2006 grasp plan acknowledged that “the overarching function of Tesla Motors (and the rationale I’m funding the corporate)” was to hurry up the transition from a mine-and-burn financial system to a photo voltaic electrical financial system. He known as the latter “the first” answer for sustainability.
Associated: Elon Musk Makes a Case for Tesla in X Livestream with Donald Trump
In a livestream interview with Donald Trump earlier this month, Musk took a softer stance in the direction of sustainability however nonetheless emphasised the significance of working in the direction of a solar-electric financial system.
“I feel we need to simply transfer over and if I do not know, 50 to 100 years from now we’re principally sustainable, I feel that’ll most likely be OK,” Musk mentioned. “It is not like the home is on hearth instantly.”
Trump acknowledged in his July speech on the Republican Nationwide Conference that he would not spend taxpayer {dollars} on “meaningless inexperienced new rip-off concepts” and would “end the electric vehicle mandate on day one.” Trump additionally mentioned final week that he might end tax credits for EVs.
Tesla has received $2.8 billion in authorities subsidies since 2009 and currently advertises its EVs with costs that routinely consider a $7,500 federal tax credit score. So Tesla has the value of the $42,490 Mannequin 3 listed as $29,990 after the tax credit score and estimated fuel financial savings — or decrease, with state tax credit.
Associated: Elon Musk Tells Investors Cheaper Tesla Electric Cars Should Arrive Ahead of Schedule
Within the livestream, Trump praised Musk and Tesla saying “You do make an excellent product I’ve to say. I’ve to be sincere with you. That does not imply everyone ought to have an electrical automobile.”