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Tesla CEO Elon Musk showcased two new autonomous vehicles at the "We, Robot" event in Los Angeles: a sleek, two-door robotaxi with gull-wing doors and no steering wheel or pedals, and the larger Robovan, which can carry up to 20 people.
Musk promised that production of the robotaxi would begin in 2026, with a starting price under $30,000.
"The autonomous future is here," Musk declared, adding, "We have 50 fully autonomous cars here tonight. You'll see Model Ys and the Cybercab. All driverless."
The Cybercab will operate at a cost of 20 cents per mile and will use inductive charging, without needing plugs. Tesla’s vehicles will rely solely on conventional cameras and artificial intelligence, unlike other companies that utilize advanced hardware like lidar.
Musk’s plan is for Tesla owners to list their cars as robotaxis through an app, making money while contributing to Tesla’s self-driving fleet.
However, some investors, like Dennis Dick from Triple D Trading, expressed disappointment over the lack of definitive timelines for the project.
Tesla’s robotaxi plans come amid challenges in the robotaxi market, with competitors like General Motors’ Cruise and Amazon’s Zoox pushing forward despite tight regulations and technological hurdles.
Tesla’s reliance on AI and camera technology for autonomous driving has also faced scrutiny following accidents involving its Full Self-Driving (FSD) system.
As competition heats up in the electric van space with the releases of Volkswagen ID Buzz and Mercedes eSprinter, Musk’s Robovan could be a game changer in the market, combining innovative design with cost-efficient, high-density transport solutions.
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