Tesla Postpones Semi Reveal to Help Puerto Rico Recovery From Post-Hurricane Power Outages
A few days ago, Elon Musk announced Tesla’s decision to delay the Semi unveiling to focus more on lending a hand to Puerto Rico as it recovers from the recent hurricanes. The Semi reveal had previously been scheduled for October 26th.
Tesla Semi unveil now Nov 16. Diverting resources to fix Model 3 bottlenecks & increase battery production for Puerto Rico & other affected areas.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 6, 2017
This decision also stems from the company’s desire to smooth out the kinks with Model 3 production. Musk has claimed that the company is “deep in production hell” and that more details would be posted later on. Musk estimates that it will be another 6-8 weeks before the Model 3 design studio for non-employee reservation holders would be available.
Tesla’s decision to postpone the Semi reveal to help Puerto Rico is a generous gesture appreciated by both residents and Governor Ricardo Rossello. Musk and Rossello had a 25-minute phone conversation this past Friday to brainstorm how Tesla could help speed the island’s recovery by implementing the company’s solar energy products.
Rossello refers to the talk as a positive first step in catalyzing Puerto Rico’s recovery. As he articulates, “I told [Musk] because of the devastation, if there is a silver lining, we can start re-conceptualizing how we want to produce energy here in Puerto Rico and distribute it and do it in a more reliable fashion.”
Great initial conversation with @elonmusk tonight. Teams are now talking; exploring opportunities. Next steps soon to follow.
— Ricardo Rossello (@ricardorossello) October 7, 2017
Tesla has already succeeded with its solar projects in Hawaii and American Samoa. According to USA Today, Musk believes that they can introduce a larger version of these systems to Puerto Rico. We await further details from Tesla about the Semi reveal on November 16th as well its exciting collaboration with Puerto Rico to help revamp its power network.
News Sources: CNBC, Forbes, USA Today
Whitney Russell resides in Dayton, though her spirit can be found beach-bumming in Puerto Rico (the land of her half-Puerto Rican heritage). When not crafting car-related content, she can be found chasing after the most amazing toddler in the world, watching her “beaver” of a husband build amazing woodworking projects, hanging out with two crazy dogs, and visiting family and friends. She also enjoys traveling, crafting, and binge-watching period dramas when time allows. See more articles by Whitney.