The automaker has already built a nice foundation for its own smartphone.
Although Elon Musk is mostly busy with the U.S. election right now, he is also still in charge of Tesla. That company makes electric cars, robots and batteries, but in the future may also make a smartphone.
During a podcast recording with comedian Joe Rogan, Musk said something about it for the first time. The billionaire does not plan to compete with Apple or Samsung. Still, he is keeping a low profile.
The Tesla smartphone, only if it has to be
“No, we are not working on a smartphone right now,” the Tesla chief says. Still, he does not rule it out for the future. “But it’s not something we want to do unless we have to.”
It all has to do with freedom, according to Elon Musk: “If Apple and Google start doing really bad things, like, I don’t know, censoring apps, or being gatekeepers in a bad way, I think we would make a phone.”
Many parts already in hand
The automaker has many parts useful in making a smartphone in its hands. Tesla’s entertainment system would be a good starting point because it runs on its own operating system and supports a touchscreen. Just like a smartphone. Of Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, Musk should know nothing.
The satellites of Elon Musk’s other company, SpaceX, would also be a good addition. The smartphone could use Starlink, connecting you to the Internet anywhere in the world with your smartphone.
The touchscreen in a Tesla (Image: Tesla)
Competitors are already doing it
Making your own smartphone is not easy. It is not only about good hardware, but also about an ecosystem with apps. Microsoft could not beat the iPhone and Android devices with Windows Phone. Chinese Huawei also has a hard time winning over Western countries with its own operating system.
Should Tesla do want to enter the smartphone market, it will not be the first car manufacturer. Polestar already makes its own smartphone. The same goes for compatriot NIO. That Chinese automaker also has a smartphone. The difference with a possible future Tesla smartphone is that these are Android devices, though.
The reverse is also true. For example, smartphone maker Xiaomi, on the other hand, makes its own car. This one, like the smartphone, uses MIUI as its operating program. However, this is again a shell built around Android, so it is also not completely proprietary operating software.
