Success in 2015:

Elon Musk begins by acknowledging the successes Tesla experienced in 2015. The company has been actively expanding, especially in France, where they have opened new facilities in Bordeaux, Lyon, Chambourcy, and Aix-en-Provence.

Supercharger Network:

Musk points out that Tesla’s Supercharger network is expanding in France, now boasting 29 stations and 144 charging points. This is significant for Tesla’s presence in France and its push towards making electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure more accessible.

Community Gratitude:

Both Elon Musk and another speaker express gratitude towards the Tesla community for their continuous support. According to Musk, the success of Tesla lies in its community. They emphasize that without the community’s support, the company wouldn’t have achieved its current status.

Scale of Operations:

While Tesla receives substantial media attention, Musk reminds the audience that it is a relatively small company. Producing 50,000 cars in the last year puts them at only 0.5% of the production capacity of industry giants like Toyota, General Motors, or VW. Despite this, community support allows them to continue growing.

Personal Connection to France:

Musk shares his personal affinity for France. He learned French in high school and visited Paris as his first international destination when he was six years old. He emphasizes that he has had a long-standing connection to France, making the success and support in the country personally meaningful to him.

Company Update:

Elon Musk gives a general update about Tesla, indicating that the Hump S is being produced at 1,000 units per week. Tesla aims to ramp up Model X production to a similar number, with expected delivery sometime in summer.

Model X Insights:

Musk finds the Model X to be “much better” than its predecessors, but also comments on the difficulty of its design and production. Despite the hurdles, he believes customers will love the product. The Model X is also noted for its ability to function well in tight parking spaces.

Model 3 Developments:

The Model 3 is under development, and Tesla is looking to limit the number of new features initially to avoid past mistakes. Musk aims to introduce more features into the Model 3 in each successive year and to start production by the end of 2017. The car is also being designed for full autonomy within two to three years.

Autopilot Features:

Musk highlights improvements in Tesla’s Autopilot system, predicting “near-perfect control” on freeways and during traffic. The system is still in development, and more capabilities are expected to be added.

Mapping and Autonomy:

Tesla is also working on a mapping solution and is making strides toward full vehicle autonomy, with human intervention being optional. Regulatory approval is a separate challenge but technologically, Tesla aims to achieve this in 2-3 years.

Powerwall and Powerpack:

Tesla is also developing the Powerwall and Powerpack, with version 2 expected to be released in July or August. Trials are underway worldwide with positive results.

Global Reach and Supercharger Network:

Musk indicates that by June of that year, Tesla’s Supercharger network will cover all of France and almost all of Western Europe.

Smartphone Integration:

Musk mentions that phone mirroring in Tesla cars is expected around the middle of the year, although it’s a technical challenge due to the limitations of current smartphone interfaces.

Market Outlook:

Despite falling oil prices, Musk is optimistic about Tesla’s unique market position, differentiating it from competitors like Nissan and Chevy, who offer less distinctive electric vehicle options.

Supercharger Network Openness:

Elon Musk clarified Tesla’s intention to keep their Supercharger network open for all electric vehicle manufacturers. Contrary to creating a competitive edge by having a “walled garden,” the ultimate goal is to accelerate the transition to sustainable transport. Tesla’s Supercharger stations will be compatible with European standard plugs, removing the need for an adapter specifically for Tesla cars.

Tesla’s Philosophy:

The primary philosophy of Tesla, according to Musk, is to do whatever is possible to support the advent of sustainable transportation. This underpins the decision to open the Supercharger network to other manufacturers.

European Manufacturing:

When asked about Tesla’s manufacturing plans in Europe, particularly France, Musk indicated that Tesla is considering expanding its factories. A new factory in Europe makes logical sense given a talent pool in engineering, production, and design that Musk sees as deeper and richer than in the U.S. While he did not confirm the location, he acknowledged the benefits of having facilities in Europe to avoid the inefficiencies of producing cars in California and shipping them to Europe.

Considerations for Factory Location:

Regarding the question of why not set up a factory in France, Musk did not rule out the possibility. He even speculated—without confirming—about the idea of placing a factory on the border between France and Germany to potentially satisfy multiple stakeholders.

By sharing these points, Elon Musk highlighted Tesla’s collaborative stance on sustainable energy and provided insights into the company’s future strategies.

Charging Technology:

Elon Musk discussed the complexity of charging time for electric vehicles, attributing it to multiple variables like cell chemistry, car’s internal wiring, and the power output of the supercharger. He mentioned that the first superchargers were 90 kWh, progressing to 135 kWh and potentially advancing to 180-200 kWh. As charging time decreases, the complexity in cell chemistry increases almost exponentially.

Charge Time Vs. Range:

He used the analogy of lithium ions looking for parking spots to explain the process of charging a battery. As the battery fills up, fewer spots are available, which makes the charging process slower and more dangerous if rushed. Musk emphasized the aim for charge times in the 15- to 20-minute range, balancing that with a car range that allows for about four hours of driving.

Vehicle to Home Power:

Elon revealed that early prototypes of Tesla’s Roadster had the capability to power a house in emergencies. However, they found it added complexity on the house side and posed dangers. Instead, he recommends stationary battery packs in conjunction with electric cars for this use case.

Optimizing Battery Capacity:

In response to queries about increasing the range of Tesla Model S, Elon spoke about the challenges of having too large a battery pack, as it adds unnecessary weight for regular driving. However, there are steady increases planned in battery capacity. He also suggested the idea of auxiliary battery packs or trailers for extended range.

Solar Charging and Regulatory Hurdles:

Solar panels on cars were considered but deemed ineffective due to limited area and low power yield. Musk also mentioned the regulatory constraints in Europe that affect Tesla’s Summon feature, indicating it could be a few weeks before it’s approved.

Artificial Intelligence Concerns:

Elon did confirm having occasional sleepless nights over artificial intelligence (AI), urging caution in its development and not to assume it will necessarily be beneficial.

Public Engagements:

Lastly, Musk informed the audience that SpaceX rocket launches are open for public viewing and that work-related stress is usually the cause of his sleepless nights, rather than his AI concerns.

The talk provided insights into Tesla’s current and future plans, as well as Musk’s views on AI and public interest in SpaceX.

Meeting with Finance Minister Paul Macron:

Elon Musk shared his recent meeting experience with France’s Finance Minister, Paul Macron. He praised Macron as one of the best politicians he’s met, indicating that he was smart and well-read. The primary discussion was about the imbalance in subsidies for gasoline cars and electric cars.

Role of Government in Automotive Industry:

Musk highlighted that gasoline cars are effectively subsidized by not being charged for the pollution they cause, such as carbon dioxide, sulfur oxide, and nitrous oxide. Musk emphasized that government’s role should be as a rulemaker or regulator in this sector. He suggested that a carbon tax would level the playing field for electric vehicles (EVs).

Consideration for Tesla Factory in France:

Paul Macron was interested in understanding if Tesla had plans to set up a factory in France. While Musk gave some feedback, he noted that the specifics were part of a private conversation.

Apple’s Entrance into the EV Market:

When asked about Apple’s strategy on electric vehicles, Musk welcomed the competition. He pointed out that Apple has a lot of money and expertise in electronics but mentioned that they would face challenges due to their habit of outsourcing production.

Other Competitors and Market Dynamics:

Musk listed four China-funded billion-dollar-plus EV startups in the U.S.: Faraday, Ateeva, NexEV, and Karma. He said that the primary focus for Tesla is to create compelling cars that people will love, and he believes other companies should do the same to succeed.

Voice Control Issue:

A concern was raised that Tesla’s voice control feature doesn’t work unless spoken in an American accent. Musk responded that the issue is fixable and he would address it with his team.

Musk’s discussion encompassed various aspects ranging from the role of government in promoting EVs to the competitive landscape and potential challenges for Tesla.