Tesla’s Newest Launch Is not a Automobile — It is a $350 Pickleball Paddle

From Elon Musk — the man who introduced the world a branded flamethrower — it in some way tracks that Tesla is now making pickleball paddles.

The EV firm launched its newest way of life product on Friday: a $350 pickleball paddle created in partnership with Selkirk, a sports activities tools firm.

The paddle, fabricated from carbon fiber with a foam core, was “optimized for high-performance play,” in keeping with the product web page.

“This wasn’t merely a branding train. It was a real engineering collaboration,” Selkirk’s co-owner and director of analysis and improvement, Tom Barnes, mentioned in a press release in regards to the launch. “Tesla’s design group and our R&D group spent greater than a 12 months buying and selling information, refining geometry, and stress-testing prototypes.”

A Selkirk spokesperson advised Enterprise Insider that the paddle’s creation was first conceptualized after a dialog on the 2023 USA Pickleball Nationwide Championships between Barnes and members of Tesla’s engineering group.

After Barnes delivered a customized batch of Tesla-themed paddles to the EV-maker’s employees, Selkirk leaders visited the Tesla manufacturing unit in Fremont, California. Whereas there, they linked with Javier Verdura, Tesla’s world director of product design, who’s an avid pickleball participant, and commenced the design course of.

Prototypes have been despatched to Tesla for aerodynamics testing earlier than the design was finalized.

The limited-run batch of the paddle offered out on Tesla’s web site in below three hours after its launch, a Selkirk spokesperson advised Enterprise Insider. Plans for a restock stay unclear.

Silicon Valley’s new standing image

Whereas the pickleball paddle is Tesla’s first foray into conventional, non-electrified sports activities tools, the automaker does supply a line of attire and residential merchandise, like drinkware ($30+), backpacks ($185+), and salt and pepper shakers ($65).

Musk’s different enterprise ventures have additionally leaned into collectible merchandise, such because the Boring Firm’s flamethrower, which went viral in 2018.

Tesla’s way of life merchandise should not listed as a separate line merchandise of their monetary experiences, and there’s no publicly accessible proof to recommend that they have a major impression on the corporate’s funds. Tesla inventory closed up greater than 2% on Friday, however sank barely in after-hours buying and selling.

Pickleball, which mixes components of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong, has skilled explosive development in reputation lately. The 2024 Pickleball Single Sport Report, launched by the Sports activities and Health Business Affiliation, discovered that participation has elevated by 45.8% since 2023 — representing 311% development over the previous three years.

In that point, pickleball has remodeled from a suburban passion for the 55+ crowd into a preferred exercise and networking alternative amongst Silicon Valley professionals.

Entry-level tools for the game would not require a major funding, with a primary paddle and ball operating lower than $50. Nevertheless, since pickleball has gained traction amongst tech personalities like Invoice Gates and celebrities like Leonardo DiCaprio, higher-end merchandise have crept into the market.

Some Selkirk fashions run upward of $150, whereas others, just like the Aero Blade 1.19, value $299 and up. The Aero Blade contains a carbon fiber body with a foam core, much like that of the Tesla model.

The debut of the Tesla pickleball paddle elicited break up reactions on social media, with some followers of the model celebrating its launch as a intelligent reward alternative forward of the vacation season. Others have been fast to criticize the worth level and Selkirk’s technique to associate with Tesla, fairly than a well known pickleball participant or influencer.

“Selkirks out right here like ‘We’re going to let each signed professional stroll, after which collab with the worlds largest manufacturers that don’t have anything to do with pickleball,'” Jimmy Miller, a pickleball participant and host of the ‘”King of the Court docket” podcast, wrote in a put up on X.

“Daring technique. Curious if it pays off,” he added. “Tesla followers will most likely promote that paddle out. Who’s subsequent? Apple? Perhaps they’ll do a Nvidia collab that comes with shares!”