The tech world has been buzzing with rumors of Tesla secretly developing a smartphone to challenge the Android and iOS dominance. But, during a recent appearance on the wildly popular Joe Rogan Experience podcast, Elon Musk finally addressed these persistent whispers.
The rumors gained steam after Musk threatened to create a Tesla phone in November 2022, responding to the potential of Apple and Google removing Twitter (now X) from their app stores. Now, in his latest conversation with Rogan, Musk was directly questioned about the phone rumors.
His response was clear: “No, we aren’t doing a phone.”
However, Musk didn’t completely shut the door on the idea. He went on to say, “We could do a phone. The operating system of a Tesla is Linux-based, but we have written a massive amount of software on top of that.” This acknowledgment hints at the potential capabilities of a Tesla smartphone, drawing attention to the company’s strong software engineering prowess.
When pressed further on the conditions under which a Tesla phone might become a reality, Musk explained, “If Apple and Google/Android starting doing really bad things, like censoring apps, or being like gatekeepers.”
This statement reveals a potential tension point in the tech landscape. Musk’s concerns about excessive control by tech giants suggest that a Tesla phone could emerge if these platforms become too restrictive. While a Tesla phone remains in the realm of speculation, Musk’s words certainly fuel the fire of anticipation.
