Elon Musk didn’t want this component in his Teslas

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• Tesla: Number one among the most innovative automakers

• Elon Musk commissioned Model Y without a steering wheel

• Disputes about the production process with the technical director at the time

The most innovative car manufacturer

Among automakers in the e-mobility space, Tesla remains at the top of the list when it comes to innovation. In a study by the Center of Automotive Management, various electric car manufacturers were examined for their innovations in the areas of range, consumption, charging capacity and customer benefits. Tesla was able to increase its value by 45 index points in 2020 compared to the previous year. The company is a full 36.8 points ahead of the second-placed Volkswagen Group. Tesla was able to achieve the improvements due to strong developments in the areas of range and charging capacity.

Mission: A car without a steering wheel

The news portal Business Insider reports that Elon Musk wanted to produce the Model Y without a steering wheel. He justified his desire for a car without a steering wheel by saying that the Model Y should drive completely independently anyway. The US automaker has long been working on building vehicles that can drive completely autonomously. Musk introduced a Tesla model without a steering wheel at Autonomy Day in 2019. According to Business Insider, Musk is convinced that people are losing interest in steering wheels and that they are 100 percent going away. Although the company is making significant strides in the field of autonomous vehicles, the system is not yet working without problems. Still, a Tesla made it to the media because of the autopilot, as the driver of the vehicle was intoxicated and passed out. The vehicle then switched on the hazard lights and stopped. It remains to be seen how driving with autopilot will develop in the future.

Disputes with then technical director Field

Although Musk commissioned the Model Y without a steering wheel, Tesla engineers, led by then-CTO Doug Field, developed the car with a steering wheel without Musk’s knowledge. In 2018, Field had left the company. According to Business Insider, there were repeated disputes between higher authorities at this time. Musk is said to have wanted more and more control over the production processes and booted out Field. The main subject of dispute was the Model 3, which came onto the market in 2017 and with which Tesla had to struggle with production problems.

E. Schmal / Editor finanzen.net

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