Elon Musk confirms Tesla Model Y

Tesla founder and CEO Elon Musk has confirmed on Twitter that the carmaker will be expanding its all-electric model line-up to include a Model Y, an electric cargo van, a minibus and a pick-up truck. He revealed that the Model Y – a compact SUV – will be based on the Model 3 sedan, while the electric cargo van, pick-up and minibus will use the chassis of the Model X.

Last month, Musk announced his plans for the future of Tesla in an article entitled 'Master Plan, Part Deux', which detailed product plans, autonomous technology development and intentions to enter the public transport sector. The Master Plan outlined strategy for the Model Y and two more electric vehicles – heavy duty trucks and high passenger-density urban transport, the latter of which is believed to be the minibus. He said the vehicle was in the early stages of development, but that it could be unveiled as early as next year.

As autonomous technology improves, all Tesla vehicles will have the capability to be self-driving, Musk has said. He also envisioned a car-sharing platform to more fully utilise passenger-carrying potential in cars that would otherwise be sat outside owners’ homes for the majority of the time when they're not in use, explaining that that once self-driving is approved by regulators, a Tesla vehicle could be summoned from anywhere.