Ever since Elon Musk first announced that Tesla will be making a relatively affordable electric sedan in 2016, people have been waiting with bated breath to get their hands on the steering wheel.
Even multiple manufacturing delays couldn’t diminish that anticipation.
Cheddar’s Hope King got a first-hand look at the mass market vehicle Monday with Josh Ong, an eager customer on Tesla’s months-long waitlist.
“For me the first reason I wanted it was the technology,” said the communications director at Cheetah Mobile. “This is really the ultimate gadget.”
More than a half million people have preordered the Model 3. But after multiple delays -- Tesla delivered just 1,500 of the vehicles in the fourth quarter -- many have given up and canceled their requests.
Cheddar News senior reporter, Michelle Castillo joined Scott Keogh, CEO of Volkswagen Group of America, for a ride in the new ID.Buzz electric van at South by Southwest. Keogh touched on issues from the auto giant's commitment to electrification and achieving carbon neutrality to the need for more charging infrastructure to support the electric vehicle wave. "We made a commitment to be CO2 neutral, and I think the reason it is, simplistically is, we're the world's largest car company. We're responsible for 1 percent of global CO2 emissions, and frankly, leaders have to lead and so that's what we want to do," he said.
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Monday laid out a proposal that would require businesses to disclose the emissions they produce. Kathleen Rogers, CEO & President at EARTHDAY.ORG, joined Cheddar News to break down the implications of this historic step.
Electric car manufacturer Tesla opened its first European factory on the outskirts of Berlin in an effort to challenge German automakers on their home turf.
