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Elon Musk Has 'Top Secret Tesla Masterplan'

SAN FRANCISCO (CBSLA.com) —  Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk signaled Sunday that something big is in the works.

Musk tweeted about a "Secret Tesla Masterplan:"

The announcement is similar to one Musk put in a blog about ten years ago. Not long after, Tesla debuted the electric cars that went on to become the highly-successful Tesla Model S sedan, and the Tesla 3 sports sedan.

Musk has said he's aiming for a " seamlessly integrated Tesla battery & solar power product that looks beautiful." Musk owns SolarCity, a solar energy design and supply company.

Musk's message was released Sunday, the birthday of inventor Nikola Tesla, for whom the company is named.

Tesla is going through a rough time, after one of its automated cars crashed in Florida May 7.

The car's camera's missed a big rig that was making a turn.

The automated system did not brake.

A man inside the car was killed, and the crash is being investigated by the National Traffic and Highway Safety Administration.

Musk has responded via Twitter to questions about that crash and investigation, trying to clarity technical terms included in news reports.

He also defended Tesla's Autopilot feature, which was engaged during the Florida crash, saying its safety record is better than that of other automakers and the U.S. average.

Tesla announced last week that shipments to customers fell during the past three months.

The company may not make its delivery goal of 80,000 to 90,000 vehicles this year.

(©2016 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)

 

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