Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has made a slight adjustment to his 2020 prediction about the future of electric and autonomous vehicles. While he previously stated that all cars produced by 2040 would be electric and fully self-driving, Musk has now revised his prediction to 99%.
Musk’s original prediction, made in a 2020 video, was that by 2040, the car industry would be entirely electric and autonomous. However, in a recent response to the video, he admitted that aiming for 100% was a bit too bold. He acknowledged that while electric and autonomous vehicles are rapidly growing, predicting that *all* cars would be fully transitioned within two decades was an overstatement.
Musk’s updated prediction comes as the electric vehicle (EV) market continues to expand. Despite this growth, industry experts highlight the need for improved charging infrastructure to support wider EV adoption. Erin Keating, an executive analyst at Cox Automotive, notes that while EV sales are surpassing traditional vehicle sales (with a 7% increase in July and an 11.3% year-over-year rise), the lack of accessible charging stations remains a significant barrier for potential EV buyers, particularly those living in apartments or without home garages.
Earlier this year, Musk estimated that it would take at least a decade before most cars on the road are self-driving. While he acknowledged the valid concerns surrounding self-driving technology, he expressed confidence that these issues could be addressed within the next ten years.
Musk’s revised prediction reflects the evolving landscape of the automotive industry, where electric and autonomous vehicles are playing a central role. While challenges remain, the rapid growth of these technologies suggests that Musk’s revised prediction of 99% electric and autonomous vehicles by 2040 could very well become a reality.
