Tesla Unveils Revolutionary Robotaxi, Scheduled for Launch in 2026

Tesla unveiled its long-awaited robotaxi at a Hollywood studio on Thursday evening, although fans of the electric vehicle maker will have to wait until at least 2026 before they become available.

CEO Elon Musk took the stage in one of Warner Bros.’ Cybercabs. and told the crowd that the sleek, AI-powered vehicles had no steering wheel or pedals. He also expressed confidence in the company’s progress in autonomous driving technology that allows vehicles to drive without human intervention.

Tesla began selling software called “Full Self-Driving” nine years ago. But doubts remain about its reliability.

“We will move from supervised fully autonomous driving to unsupervised fully autonomous driving. where you can fall asleep and wake up at your destination,” he said. “It’s going to be a glorious future.” Tesla expects Cybercabs to cost less than $30,000, Musk said. He estimated the vehicles would be available in 2026, then added “before 2027.” The company also plans to make Full Self-Driving technology available on its popular Model 3 and Model Y vehicles in Texas and California next year.

Tesla’s robotaxi is seen during an unveiling event in Los Angeles, California, United States, October 10, 2024, in this still image taken from a video. | Photo credit: TESLA

During the presentation, dubbed “We, Robot” and streamed live on Tesla’s website and X, Musk also revealed a sleek minibus-like vehicle that, like the Cybercab, would be autonomous and could carry up to 20 passengers.

The Cybercab unveiling comes as Musk tries to persuade investors that his company is focusing more on artificial intelligence and robotics, as it struggles to sell its core products, an aging line of electric vehicles.

Tesla’s model lineup is struggling and likely won’t be refreshed until late next year at the earliest, TD Cowen analyst Jeff Osborne wrote in a research note last week.

Osborne also noted that, according to TD Cowen, the “politicization of Elon” is tarnishing the Tesla brand among Democratic buyers in the United States.

Musk has supported Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump and has championed many conservative causes. Last weekend, he joined Trump at a rally in Pennsylvania.

Musk has claimed for more than five years that a fleet of robo-taxis is nearby, allowing Tesla owners to make money by ferrying passengers in their cars when they’re not in use by the owners.

But he acknowledged that past predictions about the use of autonomous driving have proven too optimistic. In 2019, he promised the fleet of autonomous vehicles by the end of 2020.

The announcement comes as US safety regulators investigate fully autonomous driving and Autopilot, based on evidence showing their system is weak in ensuring human drivers pay attention.

Additionally, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration forced Tesla to recall the Full Self-Driving system in February because it allowed speeding and violated other traffic laws, particularly near intersections. . Tesla was to fix the issues with an online software update.

Last April, in Snohomish County, Washington, near Seattle, a Tesla using the Full Self-Driving system struck and killed a motorcyclist, authorities said. The Tesla driver told authorities he was using the system while looking at his phone when the car hit the motorcyclist. The motorcyclist was pronounced dead at the scene, authorities said.

NHTSA says it is evaluating information about the fatal crash provided by Tesla and law enforcement.

The Justice Department also requested information from Tesla on fully autonomous driving and Autopilot, as well as other items.