Can Tesla Become the Next Apple? Insights from Elon Musk and Steve Jobs
The article examines Elon Musk’s recent Neuralink breakthrough, Tesla’s rapid market dominance, its software‑driven ecosystem and OTA updates, and draws parallels with Steve Jobs’ Apple, questioning whether Tesla can evolve into the next Apple‑like technology giant.
In a 2015 interview, Steve Wozniak was asked who could fill Steve Jobs’ void; he cited Elon Musk as a visionary pursuing seemingly impossible fields such as solar energy, SpaceX, and Tesla.
On August 29, Musk showcased Neuralink’s Link V0.9 chip and an autonomous implantation robot (V2) that can embed a coin‑sized device into the human brain, transmitting neural signals to phones and computers.
Live demonstrations with pigs showed wireless brain activity transmission, highlighting a potential new human‑machine interface.
The article then shifts to Tesla’s achievements: its market‑leading stock performance, the Model 3’s profitability, and the company’s rapid expansion, including the Shanghai Gigafactory’s 1‑million‑vehicle annual capacity.
Comparisons are drawn between Jobs and Musk as “reverse innovators” who reshape industries by redefining game rules, with Tesla’s impact on the automotive sector likened to the iPhone’s disruption of the mobile market.
Historical context is provided: the iPhone’s launch in 2007 transformed user experience, while Tesla’s 2008 Roadster demonstrated viable electric vehicle performance, and the subsequent Model S acted as a catalyst for the EV industry.
Chinese EV startups (NIO, Xpeng, Li Auto) are discussed, emphasizing Tesla’s dominant market share and the challenges these newcomers face despite competitive specifications.
The piece analyzes Tesla’s software ecosystem, noting that over‑the‑air (OTA) updates enable continuous vehicle improvements, cost savings, and a model akin to Apple’s iOS platform, including an app store introduced in 2019.
Auto Pilot, Tesla’s optional autonomous driving suite priced at $7,000, is highlighted as a key revenue driver with potential to boost margins above 30%.
Overall, the article argues that Tesla is following Apple’s path—building a closed, software‑centric ecosystem that could position it as the next Apple, with autonomous driving as the final piece.
Source: 字母榜 Image: 视觉中国
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