Tesla CEO Elon Musk has unveiled the company's new product, a new 'solar roof' with glass tiles. The product was demonstrated at Universal Studios in Los Angeles, California.
The solar roof would be made by Tesla and SolarCity Corp. The tiles are fully embedded in the roof, adding to the aesthetics.
According to a statement released by Tesla, the solar roof is made with specially developed glass tiles and is fitted with the photovoltaic cells. Customers will have the choice of picking a segment of their roof to hold hidden solar technology while maintaining the uniform look.
The presentation delivered by Musk did not provide many details about the new product. There is no information about the efficiency of the cells. The date of availability or the pricing of the roof were also not provided. However, Musk said that the cost would be less than the combined cost of a regular roof and electrical costs.
SolarCity co-founder Peter Rive said that the solar roofs are expected to command a five percent share of the new roof market within one to two years. The roof is expected to be available in four different variants, which are Slate Glass Tile, Smooth Glass Tile, Tuscan Glass Tile, and Textured Glass Tile.
The solar roof highlights the potential synergies between Tesla and SolarCities. The shareholders of both the companies are expected to vote on a proposed merger on November 17.