Elon Musk: Focus on getting self-driving Teslas in mass release by the end of the year

Stavanger, Norway, Aug. 29 (Reuters) – TESLA (TSLA.O) Chief Elon Musk said Monday that he aims to have the electric car maker’s self-driving technology ready by the end of the year, and hopes it will be released on a large scale in the United States and possibly Europe, depending on regulatory approval.

Speaking at an energy conference in Norway, Musk said his interest is currently focused on his SpaceX Starship spacecraft and Tesla’s electric self-driving cars.

“The two technologies that I’m focusing on, trying to get them to perfection before the end of the year, are getting our spacecraft into orbit…and then having Tesla cars to be able to do self-driving.”

“Enjoy autonomous driving on a large scale at least in the US, and possibly in Europe, depending on regulatory approval,” Musk told the audience.

Required oil and gas

Earlier, Musk said the world must continue to extract oil and gas in order to maintain civilization, while developing sustainable sources of energy.

“Realistically, I think we need to use oil and gas in the short term, or civilization will collapse,” Musk told reporters on the sidelines of the conference.

Asked whether Norway should continue drilling for oil and gas, Musk said, “I think some additional exploration is warranted at the moment.”

“One of the biggest challenges the world has ever faced is the transition to sustainable energy and a sustainable economy,” he said. “It will take several decades to complete.”

He said offshore wind power generation in the North Sea, combined with stationary battery packs, could become a major source of energy. “It can provide a powerful and sustainable source of energy in the winter,” he said.

Additional reporting by Terje Solsvik; Editing by Goldis Foch, Jean Harvey and Louise Heavens

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