That’s according to a report in the Daily Telegraph (see link below), which also says Tesla and SolarCity boss Elon Musk is expanding the current Tesla range of cars with a small SUV and a pick-up truck.
Tesla was in “early stage development” of a new style of buses, it said, which he described as “high passenger-density urban transport”.
He firmly believes that autonomous driving technology will eliminate drivers, and buses will become smaller and adopt the hop-on, hop-off feature of London’s Routemasters.
The Telegraph reports Musk as saying: “Traffic congestion would improve due to increased passenger areal density by eliminating the centre aisle and putting seats where there are currently entryways, and matching acceleration and braking to other vehicles, thus avoiding the inertial impedance to smooth traffic flow of traditional heavy buses.
“It would also take people all the way to their destination. Fixed summon buttons at existing bus stops would serve those who don’t have a phone.”
He added that the company is working on a truck, the Tesla Semi, which would cut the cost of cargo transport. Both the bus and the truck should be unveiled in 2017, Musk said.