Elon Musk: focused on getting self-driving Teslas into wide release by the turn of the year

STAVANGER, Norway, Aug 29 (Reuters) – Tesla ( TSLA.O ) CEO Elon Musk said on Monday he aimed to have the electric carmaker’s self-driving technology ready by the end of the year and hoped it could be widely launched front in the US states and possibly in Europe, depending on regulatory approval.

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

“The two technologies I’m focusing on, and trying to finish before the end of the year, are getting our starship into orbit … and then having Tesla cars to be able to drive themselves.

“Have self-driving in wide release at least in the US, and … potentially in Europe, depending on regulatory approval,” Musk told the crowd.

OIL AND GAS NEEDED

Previously, Musk said the world must continue to extract oil and gas to sustain civilization, while developing sustainable energy sources.

“Realistically, I think we have to use oil and gas in the short term, because otherwise civilization will crumble,” Musk told reporters on the sidelines of the conference.

Asked if Norway should continue drilling for oil and gas, Musk said: “I think further exploration is necessary at this point.”

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

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

Additional reporting by Terje Solsvik, editing by Gwladys Fouche, Jan Harvey and Louise Heavens

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