Tesla, guided by Elon Musk, is aligning its strategic roadmap with the visionary forecasts of futurist Tony Seba. Seba’s predictions about the future of transportation are not just influential but transformational. Seba, known for his acute predictions on technological disruptions, particularly in the energy and transportation sectors, has inspired Tesla’s board and CEO to adopt a bold new approach to mobility.

Sam Evans, the host of ‘The Electric Viking,’ details how Tesla wholeheartedly invests in Seba’s vision. “Elon Musk is essentially following Tony Seba’s predictions,” Evans explains, suggesting that Tesla is not just participating in the industry’s evolution but actively trying to shape its future based on Seba’s foresight.

Nearly a decade ago, Seba’s groundbreaking report through RethinkX, “Rethinking Transportation,” proposed that by 2030, the vast majority of U.S. passenger miles would be served by autonomous, electric vehicles owned not by individuals but by fleets, in a new model dubbed transport as a service (TaaS). This paradigm shift, Seba argued, would decimate traditional automotive and oil industries, drastically reduce oil demand and prices, and obliterate trillions of dollars in existing industry value. Conversely, it would also create trillions in new business opportunities, consumer surplus, and GDP growth.

Evans emphasizes Musk’s deep commitment to these ideas, saying, “Tesla doesn’t just want to transform transportation; they aim to be incredibly rich and powerful in the process.” This statement captures the dual goals of technological advancement and significant profit and influence that drive Tesla’s strategy.

The influence of Seba’s work on Tesla’s strategy is profound and multifaceted. According to Evans, Musk is mainly concerned with Seba’s views on autonomous driving and electric vehicle technology, where Tesla has already established significant leads. “Elon Musk, he’s probably the only CEO in the world who is doing what Tony Seba is saying is the right thing to do,” Evans adds, highlighting the unique position Tesla occupies in the automotive landscape.

Moreover, Evans points out that while Tesla aims to revolutionize transportation, the company also seeks to capitalize on the economic shifts that such a revolution would entail. “Tesla is pivoting their strategy; they will have invested over $10 billion by the end of this year into basically the vision of driving for the future that Tony Seba’s vision laid out more than ten years ago,” he explains.

The pursuit of these ambitious goals is not without its challenges. However, Tesla’s strategy involves significant risks and investments, particularly in the realms of AI and autonomous driving technologies. Musk’s comments on social media echo Seba’s predictions about the gravitational pull of cost curves in technology, which Musk equates to an undeniable force like gravity.

The automotive industry is watching closely as Tesla continues to invest in and expand its capabilities in AI and autonomous driving. With a leader like Musk, who openly acknowledges the influence of thinkers like Seba, Tesla is not merely adapting to future trends but seeking to define them.

“Are we smarter than Tony Seba, or is Elon Musk doing what no one else is brave enough to admit is what we all should be doing?” Evans poses to his audience, encapsulating the pivotal question facing the automotive industry today. As Tesla bets big on Seba’s foresight, the stakes are enormous—not just for Tesla but for the future of transportation worldwide.