Tesla CEO Elon Musk took the stage once again, unveiling his latest venture into autonomous driving with the Cybercab, a fully self-driving car priced at under $30,000. Musk also teased plans for the Robovan, capable of carrying up to 20 people. The announcement, made at Tesla’s We, Robot event at Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank, California, aims to revolutionize transportation by offering affordable, driverless options to the public by 2026.
In his signature style, Musk arrived in the Cybercab, accompanied by a man in a space suit, setting the tone for an event that blended futuristic innovation with showmanship. The crowd mingled with human-like robots, dancing and serving drinks, adding to the sci-fi atmosphere. As Musk revealed, this new wave of Tesla vehicles, designed without steering wheels or pedals, will run on inductive charging rather than the traditional plug system.
The much-hyped event gave a glimpse into Tesla’s ambitious goals. Musk shared that 50 fully autonomous cars were available for attendees to test drive, promising that the Cybercab will be operational in 2026, or as he quipped, “before 2027,” acknowledging his tendency for optimistic timelines. The Cybercab, designed as a lounge-like space, reflects Musk’s vision of a future where parking lots transform into parks and people can relax or sleep during their commutes.
Tesla has been building up to this moment, with the concept of self-driving cars in development for nearly a decade. Skepticism from analysts has been growing, as Tesla’s promises for full autonomy have repeatedly been delayed. Nonetheless, Musk remains steadfast, with plans to roll out unsupervised self-driving technology for Tesla’s Model 3 and Model Y vehicles in California and Texas as early as next year, depending on regulatory approvals.
Musk explained the benefits of autonomous driving, stating, “With autonomy, you get your time back. It’ll save lives, a lot of lives, and prevent injuries”. He emphasized the safety of Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology, which uses data from millions of Tesla vehicles worldwide, claiming it will be significantly safer than human drivers.
The event also featured the Robovan, a larger autonomous vehicle designed to carry both people and goods, but Musk did not reveal a price or production timeline. Additionally, the billionaire provided updates on Tesla’s humanoid robot, Optimus, which has made significant progress. At scale, Optimus could cost around $30,000, Musk predicted, while showcasing the robots on stage, where they danced to Daft Punk’s Robot Rock.
As exciting as these announcements are, Tesla is facing legal and regulatory challenges over its Full Self-Driving system. The company is currently facing a class-action lawsuit from customers who have yet to receive the full self-driving capabilities they were promised. U.S. safety regulators have also launched investigations into Tesla’s Autopilot system, with concerns over its safety and whether human drivers are paying enough attention while using it.
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