The vehicle, called “Cybercab,” has two wing doors that open upwards and looks like a coupe based on the Tesla bestseller Model 3. Tesla is expected to begin production of the vehicles in 2026, Musk said. At the same time, he admitted that he tends to be overly optimistic about schedules.
Musk announced that software for autonomous driving, in which humans would not have to intervene, should hit the streets in Texas and California next year in the current Model 3 and Model Y vehicles.
Tesla The “Cybercab” is scheduled to be produced from 2026
“Cybercab” will cost $30,000
The “Cybercab” will now also be available for purchase and will cost less than $30,000. Musk still wants to get by with just cameras and software without expensive technology like the laser radars of other self-driving cars.
Musk was driven to the stage at the event on the grounds of the Hollywood studio Warner Bros. in Los Angeles in one of the “cybercabs” without a steering wheel. Musk also showed off a futuristic-looking self-driving minibus called Robovan that can fit up to 20 people. The wedge-shaped front is somewhat reminiscent of earlier visions of the future for locomotives. The “Robovan” could also transport goods, said Musk. There was no information on when the vehicles might hit the road.
Reuters/Tesla Musk also presented a minibus
Later entry into the robotaxi industry
Musk is late with a robotaxi: at least in the USA, they have long been on the road. Particularly far ahead is Google’s sister company Waymo, whose vehicles make more than 100,000 trips with passengers in four US cities every week without a human behind the wheel. In San Francisco in particular, Waymo’s Jaguar electric vehicles, which have been converted into self-driving cars, are an integral part of the cityscape.
Musk is too late not only in the USA, but also in China, said industry expert Ferdinand Dudenhöffer. “Robotaxis have been operating in large numbers in China for three years. By the time Musk brings them onto the market, they will be in all major cities in China.” He has no chance there.
Breakthrough in self-driving cars with deceleration
Musk announced back in 2016 that Tesla would soon make a breakthrough in autonomous driving. A year later, he said, people behind the wheel would be able to sleep while driving in just a few months. He also promised years ago that all Tesla owners would be able to send their cars out on their own to earn money via a robotaxi platform. Tesla has long been making car buyers pay in advance for the ability to drive autonomously. Investors always seem to take the big promises seriously.
In reality, Tesla’s “Autopilot”, even in the advanced version with the addition of “Full Self-Driving” (FSD, “completely self-driving”), is currently only a driving assistance system. The drivers always bear responsibility and must be ready to take control at any time.
Musk’s “Cybercab” and “Robovan” presented
Tesla boss Elon Musk presented his new robotaxis to the media in Burbank. With the “Cybercab” and the “Robovan”, the tech mogul wants to revolutionize the existing robot taxi market. Production for this is scheduled to start in 2026.
Tesla drivers in the USA have been able to test the FSD version of “Autopilot” in a beta version for several years. Recently, many people reported that the software tried to drive through intersections when the light was red or turn out of the wrong lane. That’s why the drivers have to stop it again and again or grab the steering wheel.
Tesla’s growth slowed significantly
Musk postponed the development of a cheaper Tesla model on a new platform for the robotaxi, which would open up a larger market for the pioneer. Instead, Musk announced that Tesla’s future lies in autonomous driving.
In recent months, Tesla’s once rapid growth has slowed significantly. Accordingly, the share price is well away from its previous highs, at which Tesla was worth more than a trillion dollars. Musk is known for repeatedly igniting investors’ imaginations with full-bodied promises and visions of the future. The share price is not insignificant for Musk: the Tesla stake makes up a large part of his assets, which the financial service Bloomberg currently estimates at more than 250 billion dollars.
