Tesla CEO Elon Musk revealed a futuristic two-door robotaxi, featuring gull-wing doors and no steering wheel or pedals, at the company's eagerly anticipated “We, Robot” event on Thursday.
Arriving on stage in the new "Cybercab", Musk announced that production of the vehicle would begin in 2026, with a price tag under $30,000.
"The autonomous future is here," Musk declared. "Tonight, we have 50 fully autonomous cars, including Model Ys and the Cybercab. All driverless."
The Cybercab, designed to operate at a cost of 20 cents per mile, will use inductive charging systems, eliminating the need for plugs. It will rely solely on cameras and artificial intelligence (AI), foregoing the expensive hardware, such as lidar, used by competitors in the robotaxi market.
Additionally, Musk introduced the “Robovan”, a larger, self-driving vehicle designed to transport up to 20 passengers, and showcased Tesla’s Optimus humanoid robot, highlighting Tesla’s focus on AI and robotics.
Challenges Ahead for Tesla’s Robotaxi Ambitions
Musk’s long-standing ambition to dominate the autonomous driving market has been met with significant hurdles. In 2019, Musk confidently predicted that Tesla would have operational robotaxis by 2020. However, multiple missed deadlines have led to tempered expectations.
Despite this, Musk has doubled down on autonomous vehicles, shifting his focus from producing a smaller, cheaper electric car that was seen as vital to maintaining demand for Tesla's electric vehicle (EV) lineup.
Tesla now faces its first potential decline in deliveries, as price cuts and incentives have failed to offset rising interest rates and attract new customers.
Meanwhile, Tesla’s reliance on cameras and AI for its Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology, instead of more costly systems like lidar, has drawn regulatory scrutiny, particularly following fatal accidents involving FSD. Yet, Musk remains committed to AI-driven autonomy to keep costs low and boost profitability.
