It was to be expected following the announcements by Stellantis and Audi regarding the relaunch of their flagship TDI, JTD, and HDI Diesels. Tesla, which has been considering how to renew its range for months, has decided to derive all its models into internal combustion versions!
Initially, only gasoline engines, as they are still kings in the American market, but not homemade. The design and manufacturing of internal combustion engines being complex and costly, Tesla will not take such a financial risk. It should rather source a modest V6 and a good old American V8 from its counterparts GM, Ford, or Chrysler. Some sources are already reporting talks with Stellantis for the supply of Pentastar V6 and HEMI V8 engines, in their thermal and hybrid variants. This would allow Tesla to quickly bring its internal combustion range to market, as these components have long been proven on Stellantis' American ranges, and would allow Stellantis to find a breath of fresh air to move past the Puretech setbacks.
In a second phase, the potential agreement with Stellantis could also lead to the supply of diesel engines, still popular on the old continent.
The objective would be twofold for Elon Musk's firm: to increase its global market share by attracting those still resistant to all-electric vehicles, and especially to maximize the profitability of its existing models to gain time and money for developing future models. A significant announcement, therefore, which adds to the argument for pushing back restrictions on internal combustion engines!
A.C.J.