Tesla executive says EV maker in ‘big swing moment’ with autonomy, robotaxis, Optimus
Remarks by engineering chief served as a rallying cry for fans of Tesla and Musk amid shrinking market share and an ageing lineup in key global markets
Tesla engineering executive Lars Moravy said the company is in a “big swing moment” with its forthcoming products as he gave a wide-ranging talk at a San Francisco Bay area gathering of customers and retail investors.
Moravy, Tesla’s vice-president of vehicle engineering, said he’s personally most excited about Semi truck – built at the company’s factory near Reno, Nevada – and called it key to the company’s mission. He spoke at the “X Takeover,” a day-long event in San Mateo on Saturday.
“We take big swings, and sometimes that risk can come with a lot of downside,” said Moravy, who has been with Tesla for over 15 years. “We’re in a big swing moment right now with autonomy, Robotaxis, with Optimus [humanoid robots] and with Semi.”
Previous “Tesla Takeover” events, sponsored by the Tesla Owners of Silicon Valley club, focused on the electric vehicle (EV) maker. This year’s gathering, which drew scores of long-time Elon Musk fans, expanded to encompass SpaceX and the other companies in Musk’s overlapping business empire. Musk also spoke via video conference.
Moravy’s appearance and remarks served as a rallying cry for fans of Tesla and Musk in the face of severe challenges across the core automotive business. Tesla is losing market share as sales of its ageing lineup fall in key markets around the world. That includes California, its former home where sales have declined for the last seven quarters.