Tesla already lost the battle for the self driving car market. They made the wrong choices on battery tech, and the only mid term way forward is to buy batteries from China.

Musk never aims for being a tier two player which he would be in the EV market now. He is taking his earlier winnings and betting the farm on his next miracle (as he always does).

But I have been predicting for 2 years that he will switch to lidar in the 11th hour. this strategy allowed him to sell self-driving in teslas for all these years (Which he could not have done w/ lidar). AND still come out on top with the best self driving based on lidar and regular cameras.

I bet we will learn that Tesla has been testing lidar in his systems for years, and has dramatically ramped that testing in the last 3-6 months.

not saying his miracle move will work.... its risky! but Tesla has already lost its dominant position in the EV market, this shift is not changing that.