Tesla’s CEO Elon Musk unveiled the two vehicles at the Warner Bros Studio in Burbank, California, on Thursday, October 10, 2024. He showcased the Robotaxi with two gull-wing doors, self-driving, and no steering wheel or pedal. The other was a Robovan with a seating capacity of almost 20 people. The Robovan added innovation to Tesla’s lineup.
Musk arrived at the event in a “Cybercab,” adding that its production would start in 2026 with a starting price under $30,000. At the event, he said that over time, the cyber cab’s operation would cost only 20 cents per mile. The charging will be inductive, without any need for traditional plugs.
In addition, the excitement related to this event is at its peak on social media. The investors and analysts were more concerned about the challenges that Tesla would face in the autonomous vehicles operation plan. The social media post revealed that John Elkann (the chairperson of Stellantis, a major automotive company) and Kimbul Musk, Elon Musk’s younger brother, were present at the event.
Musk’s Remarks
Elon said that “ the autonomous future is here.” He also added, “ Today, we will have 50 autonomous vehicles here. You will have Model Ys and the Cybercab here.”
“The vast majority of cars are useless most of the time doing nothing,” he declared on the stage during the event. Contrary to it, if they are autonomous, their usage could increase five times more or even ten times more.”
Optimus Robot Of Tesla And Robotaxi Plans
Musk unveiled Tesla’s humanoid Optimus robot, which would cost between $28,000 and $30,000. This revealed Musk’s idea of Tesla as an AI robotics company rather than an automotive company. Furthermore, Musk plans to create a fleet of Tesla robotaxis that people will use for ride-hailing services by booking them through an app.
It will also enable Tesla owners to add their vehicles to the app as part of the fleet. Ultimately, this will help Tesla owners to earn money from their cars.
However, the investors like Dennis Dick, equity trader at Triple D Trading, got disappointed due to the lack of details on production timelines and approval. Elon represented the confidence that fully autonomous vehicles will operate in Texas and California by next year.
The company’s decision to use cameras and AI instead of lidars distinguished it from competitors like Amazon’s Zoox and China’s Weride. Moreover, Elon only aimed to make Tesla a leader in AI robotics and autonomous mobility.
What are your thoughts on this new Tesla’s Robotaxi? Would it bring an autonomous revolution or not?
