Tesla founder and CEO Elon Musk says the electric car company will make a pickup truck after the release of its next model.
In a message on Twitter late Tuesday, Musk said: "I promise that we will make a pickup truck right after Model Y." The Model Y is an electric SUV that's due for release in about two years.
He said the pickup would probably be slightly bigger than a Ford F-150.
Musk, who had previously hinted that a pickup model was due, was responding to suggestions he had solicited through Twitter about what the company could improve.
Tesla has mainly focused on producing passenger cars over the past decade but has branched out in recent years.
It plans to make electric semis and has invested in battery production.
Last month Musk revealed Tesla's first electric semi, claiming it would be capable of traveling 804 kilometers on an electric charge — even with a full 36-tonne load — and will cost less than a diesel semi considering fuel savings and lower maintenance.
Musk said customers can put down a US$5,000 deposit for the semi now and production will begin in 2019.
Unexpectedly, Musk also revealed the comapany's second-generation Roadster. Tesla said that the Roadster will accelerate from 0–100km/h in under two seconds, hit a top speed of over 400km/h, and have a range of 997 kilometres on a single charge.
-AP