Tesla CEO Elon Musk has introduced the long-anticipated Cybercab, the company’s new robotaxi, at Warner Bros Studios in Burbank, California.
The futuristic vehicle, equipped with two wing-like doors and no pedals or steering wheel, brought Musk to the stage before an eager audience ready to hear more about what he sees as Tesla’s future.
During the event, titled “We, Robot,” Musk reiterated his belief that fully autonomous vehicles would be safer than human-driven ones and could potentially generate income for owners by being rented out. However, his forecast that production would begin “before 2027” raised doubts about whether he would once again miss his own timeline.
“I tend to be optimistic with deadlines,” Musk joked.
He stated that the Cybercab, which will compete with other self-driving vehicles like Alphabet’s Waymo, would be priced under $30,000 (£23,000). However, industry experts are skeptical.
“For Tesla to launch a new vehicle at that price within that time frame will be incredibly challenging,” said Paul Miller from Forrester Research. “Without external subsidies or incurring losses on each vehicle, it’s unlikely they can offer it at that price within the decade.”
Musk also expressed optimism that fully autonomous technology would be available in Tesla’s Model 3 and Model Y in Texas and California next year, pending regulatory approval.
However, experts note that gaining approval is not guaranteed. “Safety is a huge concern, given these are large metal vehicles traveling at high speeds,” said Samitha Samaranayake, an engineering associate professor at Cornell University.
Tesla’s self-driving technology relies on cameras, which are less expensive than the radar and Lidar sensors that many of its competitors use. Tesla aims to teach its cars to drive using artificial intelligence trained on data from its extensive fleet. But Samaranayake notes that “the research community remains unconvinced that Tesla’s approach can provide the necessary safety guarantees.”
The Cybercab project has faced delays, with its release originally planned for August. This summer, Musk tweeted that the delay was due to design changes he deemed important.
Meanwhile, competitors have already launched their robotaxis on some U.S. roads, and Tesla could be on the verge of reporting its first-ever annual sales decline, as competition in the electric vehicle market intensifies.
Despite these challenges, the event was packed with spectacle, including Tesla’s humanoid robots performing and serving drinks to attendees. Musk also revealed a prototype of a “Robovan” designed to transport up to 20 passengers at a time.
Another analyst noted that while Musk painted an inspiring picture of the future of transportation, doubts remain about the practicality of achieving it.
“Musk presented an ideal vision of transportation, promising to free up our time and improve safety,” said Jessica Caldwell, head of insights at Edmunds. “However, significant questions remain about how this vision will be realized.”
