Here we are! Promised for many years, Tesla’s Cybercab is finally showing itself. Since becoming CEO of the brand, Elon Musk has been obsessed with self-driving cars. To the point of having long exaggerated the capabilities of FSD (Full Self Driving). This Thursday, October 10, the Austin firm lifted the veil on its vision of the future of mobility. And this will involve autonomous taxis, but not only that. Here’s everything you need to remember about this new vehicle.
It’s 8 p.m. in Los Angeles when Franz von Holzhausen, the head of design at Tesla, launches hostilities to the backdrop of electronic music. The first images set the tone for what will follow. It’s like watching the trailer for a sci-fi film. We are treated to a succession of light beams, printed circuits, and hypnotizing neural networks in what seems to be a city of the future.
Tesla Cybercab: an autonomous taxi under $30,000
The event takes place on the Warner Bros site, and this is no coincidence. Tesla used the famous American studios to recreate an urban district. The perfect place to show what your new vehicle is capable of. Elon Musk arrives a few seconds after Franz’s first words. He is accompanied by a robot in an astronaut suit and boards what appears to be the Cybercab.
A vehicle with gullwing doors, which appears to be a mix between the Cybertruck and the Model 3. Those present are invited to board the autonomous taxi during the event. About twenty copies are there. Before talking about the model, Musk makes a first observation on the state of traffic in metropolises. According to him, transport is “ too expensive, not secure enough and not ecological enough ».
Also readWith its Verne autonomous taxi, the electric supercar manufacturer Rimac is ahead of Tesla!
A vehicle for everyone
Cybercab must respond to these issues. “ And you can buy one he said, adding that the cost would be less than $30,000. He compares his autonomous taxi to a real rolling lounge, which should allow users to enjoy the road or work. As expected, it has no pedals or steering wheel, meaning it will need to be approved by regulators before it goes to market.
Still optimistic about timelines, Musk said he expected the Cybercab to be in production by 2026, or at least ” avant 2027 “. It is therefore better to base ourselves on 2027. On the design side, the model risks dividing as much as the Cybertruck, but it resembles the idea that we can have of an autonomous taxi. Inside, it’s minimalist: a large screen and only enough space for 2 passengers.
The end of the charging port?
Musk repeated his previous claims that the cost of autonomous transportation will be so low that it will be akin to that of a ” individualized public transport “. The average operating cost of the Cybercab could ultimately be around 0.18 euros per kilometer. Finally, last important point: the Cybercab does not have a charging port, but only a “ inductive charging ».
Announcements were also made about the Model 3 and Y. The brand will begin making “ Unsupervised FSD in Texas and California starting next year “. Tesla also unveiled the Robovan, an autonomous vehicle capable of accommodating up to 20 passengers. Musk is convinced that autonomous driving technologies will help “ propel Tesla to new heights ».
The Optimus robot is also there. The event ends like a big open-air party. The humanoids are in charge to prepare cocktails and put on a show. They dance, give gifts to the guests and above all give a glimpse of what they will soon be able to do. Indeed, Elon Musk promises to give them a prominent place in the company’s future.
The rest of your content after this announcement
The rest of your content after this announcement
