There is a lot of hype around a possible Tesla phone, rumored to be called Model Pi or P. However, there is no evidence for this. Still, it is interesting to think about what a smartphone from this popular and successful automaker would look like.
Tesla is known for releasing unconventional but appropriate products, such as the Cybertruck-inspired electric vehicle for children and a stainless steel whistle. So it’s no surprise if word got out that Tesla is releasing a phone. Still, there is no reliable news to back this claim up!
Is A Tesla Phone On The Cards?
A 2021 YouTube video by ADR Studio Design sparked most of the rumours, but they make it clear that these are ideas from the designer and not actual leaks or details from Tesla. Most articles on this topic seem to rely solely on this source.
Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, recently clarified the speculation about a possible Tesla smartphone during a livestream and ended the ongoing rumors. “We are not going to do a Tesla phone,” Musk said.
In 2023, Musk hinted at the idea of an “alternative phone” after Tesla acquired Twitter (now X), sparking speculation about a Tesla smartphone. This happened against a backdrop of uncertainty about the status of the microblogging platform in mainstream app stores.
But later, Musk ruled out a Tesla smartphone. Musk’s clarification ended speculation that had sparked buzz among tech enthusiasts.
For Some Analysts, Tesla Will Do A Phone
According to Morgan Stanley analysts, Tesla will make a smartphone which could be a pocket-sized version of the car and there is a strong chance for the same, Light Reading reported.
“Will Tesla Do a Phone? Yeah, We Think So,” analysts recently said in an emailed note to investors. This note was shared by Morgan Stanley with Light Reading.
Analysts held discussions with industry experts and automotive management and assessed that the connected car and the smartphone blend together.
“The car is an extension of the phone. The phone is an extension of the car. The lines between car and phone are truly blurring,” said the Morgan Stanley analysts.
“Any Tesla owner will tell you how they use their smartphone as their primary key to unlock their car as well as running other remote applications while they interact with their vehicles. The ‘action button’ on the iPhone 15 potentially takes this to a different level of convenience,” said Morgan Stanley.
Elon Musk’s U-Turn
Recently, Musk raised security concerns on X over Apple’s integration with OpenAI’s ChatGPT, sparking question that this could mean that he may consider a smartphone launch, to which he said that the idea was “not out of the question.”
However, he took a U-turn in November 2023 saying, “I don’t think there’s a real need to make a phone. If there’s an essential need to make a phone, I’ll make a phone. But I’ve got a lot of fish to fry.”
