Musk Reads: Tesla Model Y Launch Imminent

Musk’s Model Y draws closer; SpaceX’s Crew Dragon returns to Earth; and a new Tesla Supercharger launches. It’s Musk Reads #69.

A version of this article appeared in the “Musk Reads” newsletter. Sign up for free here.

Keep your eyes peeled for a special edition Tesla Model Y newsletter on Friday!

Musk Quote of the Week

“Thank you on behalf of SpaceX! We have always admired your rocket/spacecraft technology.”

Read more about why Musk is thanking Roscosmos here.

Tesla

The Model Y is almost here. Tesla’s compact SUV, due for launch Thursday, is designed to bring more consumers to electric cars in a similar way to the pickup truck and the Model 3. It could be the firm’s first full self-driving car, with a surprisingly low price to match. The launch comes the same week as Tesla’s third-generation supercharger which aims to cut charge times by 50 percent. Read more.

It’s not all good news. Just days after announcing plans to close almost all of its stores, Tesla reversed course and decided to only close half as many. The change means that instead of offering a six percent price cut across the board, the company will offer a three percent cut. The $35,000 Model 3, which launched at the start of the month, is not affected by the changes. Read more.

What’s next for Tesla: Tesla is set to launch the Model Y at an event on March 14 at 8 p.m. Pacific time.

SpaceX

SpaceX’s Crew Dragon returned to Earth last week, completing its maiden voyage to the International Space Station. The capsule is expected to take over from Russian Soyuz rockets and fly astronauts to the station alongside Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner. The unmanned mission, fitted with a dummy called “Ripley,” is expected to pave the way for a manned test later this year. Read more.

What’s Next for SpaceX: The firm is expected to fly the Falcon Heavy again. More concrete details are still to come, but it’s expected to be the first mission for the rocket after it first sent Musk’s red Tesla Roadster into space as part of a test flight.

The Boring Company

The Boring Company plans to come to Las Vegas by the end of the year, Musk announced on Wednesday. The city’s convention center, home to the CES annual tech show, wants to build a “loop” to help attendees avoid the two miles of walking from one side to the other. It could be a major win for the firm, which has yet to start construction of its first project beyond the Hawthorne, California, test tunnel. Read more.

Photo of the Week

Tesla Model X, now in ice form:

The Ultra-Fine Print

This has been Musk Reads #69, the weekly rundown of essential reading about futurist and entrepreneur Elon Musk. I’m Mike Brown, an innovation journalist for Inverse.

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A version of this article appeared in the “Musk Reads” newsletter. Sign up for free here.