Tesla boss Elon Musk presented the new robotaxi “Cybercab” with two wing doors and without a steering wheel or pedals at the “We, Robot” event. Series production is scheduled to start in two years.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk unveiled an autonomous taxi called “Cybercab” at the “We, Robot” event in Los Angeles last Thursday. The vehicle will be produced in large series from 2026, reports “Reuters”. The Cybercab is a self-propelled transporter with two wing doors and no steering wheel or pedals. Musk also presented the “Robovan” – an autonomous electric bus that can carry up to 20 people. However, the Tesla boss did not provide any information about when this bus could hit the road.
The taxi will cost less than $30,000 and will cost 20 cents per mile to operate. The vehicle can only be charged inductively and therefore does not have a charging plug.
Musk is known for optimistic timing and it is unclear how quickly Tesla can ramp up production of the robotaxis, overcome inevitable regulatory hurdles or implement a business plan to overtake competitors such as Alphabet’s Waymo, writes “Reuters”. “I’m a shareholder and I’m pretty disappointed,” stock trader Dennis Dick of Triple D Trading was quoted by the news agency. “I think the market is demanding more precise timelines.”
It could take longer to launch than hoped
According to analysts and industry experts, the rollout of robotaxis could take years due to unanswered questions about safety and reliability. The cybercab will rely on artificial intelligence and cameras, but experts judge the presented approach to be problematic from a technical and legal perspective, according to Reuters.
Musk has envisioned an ideal future for transportation that promises to save time and increase safety, says Edmunds auto analyst Jessica Caldwell. “But many questions remain about how this can be achieved in practice.”
Tesla is not the only company producing robotaxis. The Google subsidiary Waymo currently dominates the market – it operates around 700 robotaxis, around 300 of which are in San Francisco.
On the occasion of the presentation of Tesla’s new robotaxi, the humanoid robot “Optimus” developed by the car manufacturer also made an appearance. Musk called the robot “the greatest product ever.” One day every person will have at least one of these as a mechanical helper for everyday tasks.
Tesla’s Optimus can also serve drinks. (Source: Screenshot www.tesla.com/we-robot)
Tesla already recorded a decline in profits from electric car sales in the second quarter of 2024. But Musk is trying to keep his investors happy with self-driving cars and humanoid robots, as you can read here.
