Tesla CEO Elon Musk is teasing a big announcement his company is about to make soon, and it will apparently be "unexpected."
This intriguing product unveiling will take place on Oct. 17, preceding another big announcement regarding Tesla and SolarCity on Oct. 28.
Tesla product unveiling on the 17th (unexpected by most), followed by Tesla/SolarCity on the 28th
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 9, 2016
It seems that Tesla is gearing up for a busy October, but what could that "unexpected" announcement entail?
One theory is that Tesla might unveil its Autopilot 2.0 hardware, introducing an updated system that will significantly improve Tesla Autopilot. As TechCrunch reports, the company's new and improved system will enable its Autopilot to read traffic lights and stop signs, thus enabling vehicles to navigate even off highways. For now, this is a major limitation.
At the same time, Tesla could also be gearing up to announce something else, unrelated to its controversial Autopilot. For instance, the company could introduce a new home energy storage solution such as its popular Powerwall battery option.
A third option, albeit not very likely, is a Tesla Model Y unveiling. The Model Y is expected to come as a compact SUV, succeeding the Tesla Model 3. The Tesla Model Y should hit the scene by late 2017 or early 2018, however, so an announcement next week doesn't seem that likely.
Tesla's master plan for the next couple of years is expected to cover a number of exciting announcements, including the Model Y sometime in the future. Moreover, an increasing number of carmakers are starting to focus on fully electric SUVs, and Tesla's upcoming Model Y may include a pickup truck version as well.
Tesla is likely looking to get a bigger slice of the pie before the market gets more crowded, but it would still be quite odd to have a Model Y announcement less than two weeks before the big solar roof unveiling Tesla and SolarCity have planned for Oct. 28.
Then again, Tesla could be planning something completely different from any of these theories since Musk teased that it will be "unexpected by most."
It remains to be seen just what the company has planned for Oct. 17, but we'll be all ears to see what it has to say, and we'll make sure to keep you in the loop regarding any new developments Tesla announces. Until it's official, however, these theories are just that — theories. As with any and all speculation, take this report with a grain of salt.
