Power Players

Elon Musk tweets fans might see a Tesla pickup truck in 2019

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A sketch of a Tesla pickup truck concept, revealed at the firm's Semi truck and Roadster event in Hawthorne, California on November 16, 2017.
Tesla

Elon Musk Tesla's pickup truck is coming and it's going to look "really futuristic-like cyberpunk, 'Blade Runner,'" he told Recode in November (referring to the sci-fi movie).

Then in December Musk said there might be a prototype of that "heart-stopping" truck as soon as 2019, because "he's "dying to make a pickup truck so bad," he tweeted on Dec. 11.

I'm dying to make a pickup truck so bad … we might have a prototype to unveil next year

Musk's tweet has since racked up over 4,300 likes and prompted over 300 comments.

The Tesla CEO has already shared an image of the what the pickup might look like (above).

Though Musk told Recode he couldn't share details on the pickup, in June he asked his millions of Twitter followers what they would like to see in the truck and got thousands of responses.

What would you love to see in a Tesla pickup truck? I have a few things in mind, but what do you think are small, but important nuances & what would be seriously next level?

In the Twitter exchange, Musk said the pickup will have "dual motor all-wheel drive w crazy torque & a suspension that dynamically adjusts for load. Those will be standard" and "Pickup truck will have power outlets allowing use of heavy duty 240V, high power tools in field all day. No generator needed."

When a Twitter user suggested the vehicle should be able to detect a young child crossing in front of the car, Musk responded, "Camera & onboard neural net should detect [that]. If very close (below 15 ft), will show up on ultrasonics."

In 2017, Musk tweeted the pickup would be unveiled "in 18 to 24 months," but more recently said the pickup would be made after Tesla's Model 3 (now in production) and its upcoming Y SUV, according to CNBC.

But a pickup isn't the only thing Musk has in mind for Tesla: In a Dec. 9 tweet, Musk revealed that Tesla is testing automated driving with no driver input and Musk said the results "will blow your mind. Automatically passes slow cars & takes highway interchanges & off-ramps," he tweeted.

If you have a Tesla built in past 2 years, definitely try Navigate on Autopilot. It will blow your mind. Automatically passes slow cars & takes highway interchanges & off-ramps

"Already testing traffic lights, stop signs & roundabouts in development software," he added. "Your Tesla will soon be able to go from your garage at home to parking at work with no driver input at all."

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Here's how much you'd have now if you invested in Tesla in 2010
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Here's how much you'd have now if you invested in Tesla in 2010


This story has been updated.