Elon Musk Vows to End Traffic Jams With New 'Autonomous Vehicle'

Speaking at a transport conference in Norway on Thursday, Musk said that his company is developing “something which is not exactly a bus but would solve the density problem for inner city situations.” He added that the new project is an “autonomous vehicle” that could solve high-density urban transport issues in modern-day cities.

“There’s a new type of car or vehicle that would be great for that and that’ll actually take people to their final destination and not just the bus stop,” Musk said, declining to provide additional details. “I don’t want to talk too much about it. I have to be careful what I say.”

Gizmondo news outlet speculated that the project could be a self-driving bus in the image and likeness of the Tesla van concept, giving share rides for citizens in crowded cities. Last August Musk heated up speculation of a possible ride-sharing service by Tesla Motors, suggesting that electric cars could be engaged in such a venture.

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The entrepreneur has long considered public transportation solutions.

Earlier, Musk proposed the construction of specific car tunnels that would resolve the “soul-destroying” problem of gridlocks. The inventor is also behind the concept of Hyperloop, a transport system that would allow transferring people between cities in capsules running through tubes at high speed.

Musk’s Tesla Motors Inc. builds electric cars. The company’s latest venture, the Model 3, is aimed at the mass market. With an operational range of some 346 kilometers, the sedan will cost about $35 000. Deliveries are set to begin in 2017 and the company currently claims 400,000 pre-orders.