Is the cybertruck the ‘third generation car’ from Tesla?

[OakvilleMYP]

I can’t help but think the ‘third generation car’ mentioned in this article from 2015 is the cybertruck.
Or is the cybertruck the second generation?

Google almost bought Tesla when it had just two weeks of cash left

Elon Musk sought saviour in Google co-founder Larry Page when cars were full of bugs, sales dived and the factory had to be shut down

www.theguardian.com

 

[cypho]

Feels like the 4th to me.

1st, original roadster
2nd, model s/x
3rd, model 3/Y and refresh/plaid S/X
4th, vehicles with 4680 batteries, (cybertruck, new roadster)

 

[Ogre]

As much as Tesla has "Generations" of anything, I agree with cypho's breakdown.

I think the Plaid+ was also supposed to be 4680, and perhaps that explains the delays and somewhat lackluster spec bump on the refreshed Model S.

 

[OakvilleMYP]

Feels like the 4th to me.

1st, original roadster
2nd, model s/x
3rd, model 3/Y and refresh/plaid S/X
4th, vehicles with 4680 batteries, (cybertruck, new roadster)

Purely going off the article here.
It mentions the sale discussions occured in 2013, and then Musk asked to run it for 8 years, or until it develops it’s 3rd get vehicle.

If 3/Y were the 3rd gen, then he beat his goal by 3 years, if the 3rd gen is the cybertruck (or similar, more specifically structural pack, 4680, ground up build), he may be a bit behind his 8 year goal.

Perhaps:
Gen 1: 2008 - 2012 roadster
Gen 2: 2012 - 2016 S/X or 2012 - 2020 SEXY.
Gen 3: 4680/structural pack, whole new ground up build vehicle (cybertruck, roadster v2, plaid +) 202x?

Certainly though I can agree with your suggestion as the S/X and 3/Y seem a generation apart, in approach and overall design, new batteries, much larger volume etc.

 

[Ogre]

Back in 2013, the "3rd Gen Vehicle" referred to was without a doubt the Model 3.

1. Build sports car
2. Use that money to build an affordable car
3. Use that money to build an even more affordable car
4. While doing above, also provide zero emission electric power generation options

The Secret Tesla Motors Master Plan (just between you and me) | Tesla

www.tesla.com

1) Being the Roadster
2) Being the Model S
3) Being the Model 3

The Model X was inserted between because Tesla wasn't able to produce a "even more affordable car"

 

[OakvilleMYP]

Back in 2013, the "3rd Gen Vehicle" referred to was without a doubt the Model 3.

The Secret Tesla Motors Master Plan (just between you and me) | Tesla

www.tesla.com

1) Being the Roadster
2) Being the Model S
3) Being the Model 3

The Model X was inserted between because Tesla wasn't able to produce a "even more affordable car"

I haven’t seem the link you posted before, you must be referring to this part:

“ Without giving away too much, I can say that the second model will be a sporty four door family car at roughly half the $89k price point of the Tesla Roadster and the third model will be even more affordable. In keeping with a fast growing technology company, all free cash flow is plowed back into R&D to drive down the costs and bring the follow on products to market as fast as possible. ”

It’s referencing a second and third model, not necessarily a generation. But as I stated above, there is without a doubt large improvements between the Roadster, S and 3. The X is a very similar vehicle to the S, alightly less so then the 3 & Y.
The delayed next step is certainly a new generation of vehicles all together. 3rd or 4th semantics, I was just curious if he is ahead of where he thought he would be or behind. It seems ahead.

 

[Ogre]

I haven’t seem the link you posted before, you must be referring to this part:

The part I quoted and referred to is verbatim at the very tail end of the linked blog post by Musk.

It’s referencing a second and third model, not necessarily a generation.

You have to keep in mind, the conversation took place in 2013, it was just after the launch of the Model S. The 4680 wasn't even a pipe dream, "Production Hell" was several years in his future. Many of the problems which the Cybertruck, the 4680, and many of the other advances were designed to address hadn't even been encountered yet.

 

[OakvilleMYP]

The part I quoted and referred to is verbatim at the very tail end of the linked blog post by Musk.


You have to keep in mind, the conversation took place in 2013, it was just after the launch of the Model S. The 4680 wasn't even a pipe dream, "Production Hell" was several years in his future. Many of the problems which the Cybertruck, the 4680, and many of the other advances were designed to address hadn't even been encountered yet.

Fair, so he was 3 years ahead with the 3rd gen. The 3/Y also have a 3rd gen battery as well.

So we are waiting for the 4th gen to happen.

 

[andy.connor.e]

4th generation platform. When vehicle models switch over to 4680s, those will also be 4th generation, being frame castings and latest battery form factor. You could argue that S/X are still 2nd generation platform since they still use 18650s, but its probably like 2.5th generation.