Tesla will unveil electric lorry in September

Elon Musk has strong backing from investors - but needs to hit ambitious targets this yearImage source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Elon Musk has strong backing from investors - but needs to hit ambitious targets this year

Tesla will unveil an electric articulated lorry in September, chief executive Elon Musk has said.

Additionally, he said an electric pick-up truck would be shown off in around 18-24 months.

Last year Mr Musk expressed the firm’s desire to branch out beyond cars.

However, analysts are concerned the company will not meet demand for its current projects.

The Model 3, a more mid-market car compared to what Tesla currently offers, has 400,000 pre-orders - vastly more than the company can manufacture in a year. It is due to go into production later this year.

However, despite this hurdle, investors seem confident that Mr Musk will meet his ambitious promises - Tesla’s surging stock price saw it briefly become the most valuable car maker in the US on Monday.

Speaking about the lorry, Mr Musk said his team had done an "amazing job" and the vehicle would be "seriously next level".

In a string of tweets sent out on Thursday, Mr Musk also said that the next version of its roadster sports car will be a convertible.

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