Elon Musk has officially unveiled Tesla’s long-awaited robotaxi, the Cybercab, at a highly anticipated event at Warner Bros Studios in Burbank, California. The Cybercab features a futuristic design with wing-like doors and, notably, no pedals or steering wheel. Musk, arriving in the vehicle himself, reiterated his belief that fully autonomous vehicles will not only be safer than human-driven ones but could also become sources of passive income for owners who rent them out for rides.
During the event, titled “We, Robot”, Musk optimistically stated that Cybercab production could begin “before 2027,” though his track record for meeting timelines has been mixed. Musk acknowledged this, joking about his optimistic time frames. Tesla aims to price the Cybercab below $30,000, but analysts like Paul Miller from Forrester are skeptical, pointing out that without subsidies or Tesla incurring significant losses, such a price point may not be achievable within this decade.
Here are the key points from the event:
- Design and Features: The Cybercab features a futuristic design with two wing-like doors, and notably, it lacks pedals and a steering wheel. This aligns with Musk’s vision for a fully autonomous vehicle.
- Pricing and Production Timeline: Musk stated that the Cybercab is expected to cost less than $30,000 (£23,000) and production is projected to begin “before 2027.” However, analysts have expressed skepticism about this pricing, highlighting the challenges Tesla faces in achieving such low costs without significant subsidies or losses.
- Safety and Regulatory Concerns: Musk emphasized that fully self-driving vehicles would be safer than human-operated ones. However, experts raised safety concerns regarding the autonomous technology and the regulatory approval needed for widespread deployment.
Mr Musk also said he expected to see “fully autonomous unsupervised” technology available in Tesla’s Model 3 and Model Y in Texas and California next year “with permission where ever regulators approve it.”
But that approval is far from guaranteed.“It is a big chunk of metal driving on roads at high speeds, so safety concerns are big,” said Samitha Samaranayake, an associate professor in engineering at Cornell University.
Tesla’s self-driving ambitions rely on cameras that are cheaper than radar and Lidar (light detection and ranging) sensors that are the technology backbone of many competitors’ vehicles.
By teaching its cars to drive, Tesla plans to use artificial intelligence (AI) trained by the raw data it collects from its millions of vehicles.
But the research community “is not sold on whether the Tesla style of doing things can give the safety guarantees that we would like,” Mr Samaranayake said.
- Technological Approach: Tesla relies on a camera-based system for its autonomous driving capabilities, contrasting with competitors who use more expensive radar and Lidar technologies. The effectiveness and safety guarantees of Tesla’s approach remain topics of debate among researchers.
- Delays and Competition: The Cybercab project has experienced delays, initially set for release in August, primarily due to design changes. Meanwhile, other companies have already deployed their robotaxis on US roads, indicating that Tesla is playing catch-up in this competitive landscape.
- Event Highlights: The unveiling event, titled “We, Robot,” included a lively atmosphere with Tesla’s humanoid robots entertaining guests. Musk also introduced a prototype “Robovan,” designed to transport up to 20 passengers.
Overall, while Musk’s vision for the Cybercab reflects ambitious goals for Tesla’s future, the path to realization involves navigating significant challenges, both in terms of technology and market competition.
Playing catch up
The cybercab project has undergone delays, having originally been due for release in August.
This summer, in a post on X , formerly Twitter, Mr Musk said the wait was due to design changes he felt were important.
Meanwhile, competing robotaxis are already operating on some US roads.
Tesla also seems poised to post its first ever decline in annual sales as competitors pile into the electric vehicle market, even as sales have softened.
Despite that dour backdrop, Tuesday’s event was heavy on spectacle – complete with Tesla’s humanoid robots dancing and serving drinks to attendees.
In addition to the Cybercab, Musk spoke about Tesla’s broader self-driving ambitions. He predicted that fully autonomous technology could debut in the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y in Texas and California next year, provided regulatory approval is granted. However, there are still significant safety concerns. Unlike competitors who rely on radar and Lidar, Tesla’s approach uses cameras and AI to power its self-driving systems, which has raised doubts within the research community about whether Tesla can provide the same safety guarantees.
The Cybercab project has faced delays, originally scheduled for release in August 2024, but Musk explained that these were due to design changes. Tesla faces competition from other robotaxi services already operating in parts of the U.S. Despite the challenges, the event was a spectacle, featuring Tesla’s humanoid robots performing and serving drinks.
Additionally, Musk revealed a prototype for a “Robovan”, a sleek, futuristic shuttle capable of carrying up to 20 passengers, which could become a key transportation mode for Tesla in the future.
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