Tesla The new Tesla Roadster is expected to arrive in 2020.
- Tesla CEO Elon Musk said the Roadster will have a SpaceX upgrade package at Tesla's annual shareholder meeting on Tuesday.
- Musk didn't describe what the package would include, but he hinted in November that the Roadster could have an upgrade package that would allow it to "fly short hops."
- Musk is also the CEO of SpaceX, a space exploration company which makes rockets that have been used to carry satellites into space and transport supplies to the International Space Station.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk said customers for the company's upcoming Roadster sports car will be able to get a SpaceX upgrade package at Tesla's annual shareholder meeting on Tuesday.
Musk didn't describe what the package would include, but he hinted in November that the Roadster could have an upgrade package that would allow it to "fly short hops" and implied that the package would include rocket technology. Musk is also the CEO of SpaceX, a space exploration company which makes rockets that have been used to carry satellites into space and transport supplies to the International Space Station.
On Tuesday, Musk said the Roadster would give Tesla an opportunity to prove an electric car could outperform its gas-powered counterparts.
"Gasoline cars still have sort of a halo effect, and I think if we can show an electric car can outperform a gasoline car in every way, then we can sort of get rid of that halo effect," he said.
In September, Bloomberg reported that Telsa and SpaceX employees have collaborated, citing an instance where SpaceX employees advised Tesla employees on how to identify a problem on an aluminum auto part. Tesla representative told the publication that SpaceX and Tesla "are occasionally able to share ideas that help the other."
Tesla unveiled the new Roadster in November. The company said the vehicle will be able to accelerate from 0-60 mph in 1.9 seconds, reach a top speed of 250 mph, and drive 620 miles per charge. The new Roadster starts at $200,000 and is expected to arrive in 2020.
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