Elon Musk unveils autonomous Tesla 'Cybercab'

Tesla

Elon Musk unveils autonomous Tesla 'Cybercab'

October 21, 2024

Tesla's sleek new 'Cybercab' promises a revolution in autonomous transport – but can Musk deliver on his vision of the future? Olivia Palamountain reports

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has revealed the company's long-anticipated robotaxi, dubbed the "Cybercab", at an event held at Warner Bros Studios in Burbank, California.

The October 10 unveiling, part of a presentation titled "We, Robot," showcased a futuristic, windowless vehicle featuring wing-like doors and notably absent of pedals or steering wheel.

"The autonomous future is here,"Musk declared to the audience (The Telegraph), reiterating his belief that fully autonomous vehicles will surpass human-operated ones in safety and could potentially generate income for owners through ride-sharing.

Tesla Robotaxi However, the market response was lukewarm, with Tesla's share price dropping more than 8% following the announcement, while competitors Uber and Lyft saw their stocks rise, reports the BBC.

The Cybercab will be available for purchase at under $30,000 (£23,000) and will cost a mere 20 cents per mile to operate, according to Tesla.

The Tesla chief's ambitious production timeline for the Cybercab, slated to begin "before 2027," has been met with scepticism from industry analysts. Paul Miller from Forrester Research tells the BBC: "It will be extremely difficult for Tesla to offer a new vehicle at that price within that timescale," referring to Musk's pricing claims.Tesla RobotaxiTesla's vision includes operating a fleet of self-driving taxis that passengers can hail via an app. Additionally, individual Tesla owners will have the opportunity to earn money by listing their vehicles as robotaxis on the app.

However, safety concerns remain a significant hurdle for Tesla's self-driving technology, which relies on camera-based systems rather than the radar and Lidar sensors used by many competitors.

According to a new report from Reuters, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said on October 18 that it is opening a probe into 2.4 million Teslas with the brand's Full Self-Driving software after the agency was made aware of four reported collisions, including a fatal crash.Tesla RobotaxiDespite the challenges, Musk remains optimistic about Tesla's autonomous driving future, projecting that "fully autonomous unsupervised" technology could be available in Tesla's Model 3 and Model Y in Texas and California next year, pending regulatory approval.

The event also featured demonstrations of Tesla's "Optimus" humanoid robots and the introduction of a "Robovan" prototype capable of transporting up to 20 passengers.Tesla RobotaxiThe launch of Cybercab comes at a crucial time for Tesla; as it enters the competitive robotaxi market, it faces established players such as Waymo and emerging partnerships such as Uber's alliance with Cruise.

Additionally, The Telegraph reports that electric vehicle sales have stalled globally in the first half of 2024.

The success of the Cybercab will depend on Tesla's ability to navigate regulatory challenges, ensure safety, and deliver on its ambitious production and pricing goals.

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