Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, recently unveiled the company’s new fleet of driverless robotaxis named Cybercabs. These electric vehicles are designed to transport passengers without the need for a human driver. Musk made the announcement at a highly-anticipated event at the Warner Brothers movie lot in Burbank, California. The Cybercabs have a futuristic design resembling the Cybertruck, with no steering wheel or pedals, and doors that open upwards like butterfly wings. Musk also teased a larger autonomous vehicle called the Robovan, which can accommodate up to 20 people.
During the event, Musk stated that the Cybercabs would be available for purchase by 2026 and would cost less than $30,000. However, Musk has a track record of missing product launch dates, as he has promised a robotaxi fleet every year since 2019. He also mentioned that the company plans to launch fully autonomous driving in California and Texas by next year. Musk estimated that operating the Cybertruck could cost as low as $0.20 per mile, significantly cheaper than traditional city buses. This announcement marks a new vision for Tesla, expanding beyond electric vehicles and focusing on autonomous technology.
The introduction of the Cybercabs puts Tesla in direct competition with Waymo, the self-driving car division of Alphabet. Waymo is a pioneer in autonomous vehicles with significant investments from Alphabet. The company has already launched services in several cities and plans to expand further. Additionally, Cruise, a part of General Motors, resumed autonomous driving testing after an accident involving a pedestrian in San Francisco last year. Tesla has also faced controversies related to its driving software, such as a fatal accident involving a Tesla using the Full Self Driving feature near Seattle earlier this year.
The event, which was streamed on Musk’s social platform X, attracted over 3.3 million viewers. Musk also showcased an updated version of Optimus humanoid robots, which he claimed would eventually be able to perform various tasks such as serving drinks, babysitting, mowing the lawn, and grocery shopping. He believes the Optimus robots will be a game-changer in the market and anticipates a significant demand for these products. The robots impressed the audience by dancing to a popular song at the end of the presentation.
Overall, Elon Musk’s unveiling of the Cybercabs, along with the updates on the Optimus robots, marks a significant development for Tesla as it expands into the autonomous vehicle and robotic industries. The company’s focus on innovation and technology continues to drive its vision for the future of transportation. Despite facing competition from established players like Waymo, Musk remains optimistic about Tesla’s prospects in the evolving market of self-driving vehicles. As Tesla pushes forward with its autonomous technology, consumers can expect to see more groundbreaking advancements in the coming years.
