Part 9/14:
Tesla’s internal debates reveal a company making tough choices. Many top executives and engineers argued for developing the Model 2 alongside the robo-taxi program, envisioning a complementary approach that would generate revenue and provide immense data to improve FSD. These advocates believed that a smaller, affordable car—similar to a compact Model Y—would also help gather data essential for AI training.
Contrarily, Musk’s staunch focus on autonomous driving and AI meant foregoing this conventional EV path. He expressed disinterest in producing another small car, considering it a distraction or insufficiently exciting. Instead, he entrusted Chinese engineering teams to supply affordable vehicles, freeing U.S. resources to develop FSD and humanoid robots.