Daimler gliders sooner of go it alone later mentioned
Tesla already has a ute in the works but continued questioning on Twitter about the need for an electric van has led Elon Musk to consider how that might come about and name Daimler and subsidiary Mercedes Benz as possible chassis option.
The exchange on Monday follows a great deal of recent ribbing from Twitter followers after an image was shared of a Ford Sprinter van in Tesla livery was shared. This occurred after an on-road service call by mobile team members call Tesla Rangers.
In reply to a separate post pleading for a Tesla van – “Shame that’s not a Tesla VAN. Because we REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY need a good tough as nails electric trades van. We burn fuel like crazy” – Musk appears to reference previously acknowledge full-vehicle production resources constraints due to Tesla 3 orders while pointing at two van-construction options.
He also gives something of a pecking order for the company’s vehicles.
Read about the launch of the new Sprinter range, including the eSprinter, here
“Lot on our plate, so it’s either get van gliders (no battery, powertrain or compute tech) from Daimler & produce sooner or do all & produce later. Not a big difference to total vehicles produced either way. Priority list is Model Y, solar roof tiles, pickup, semi, Roadster.”
The idea of an electric van is not new for Benz, which unveiled the eSprinter in February for release next year, and Daimler threw down as electric vehicle gauntlet to Tesla last year after Musk took the German behemoth to task over its EV investment profile.
Twitter followers pointing out that Benz “already has one” seem to misunderstood or ignored the term “glider”, though Daimler’s silence on the matter may point to an answer as to why it would aid a potential competitor.