If that's his 5d chess plan then he's dumb as shit.

Rednecks do not want EVs. They want 70k trucks plus a lift kit and modified engines to enable rolling coal on any EV or hybrid they come across. They are on purpose going in the opposite direction out of spite.

*Also battery energy density isn't capable of hauling big loads for long distances

Elon is just a moron who failed upwards

I considered that too (the ploy, not the brilliant part) when he initially started changing his tone, but it didn't take long before I realized that was very unlikely. His response the diver that rescued those kids in the flooded cave really sealed it for me realize that he's just a man with too much money and not enough sense.