Get Ready for the Future: Tesla’s Revolutionary Self-Driving Robotaxi Set to Hit the Roads This October
Tesla’s Robotaxi Unveiling: A Glimpse into the Future of Autonomous Transportation
Photo courtesy of Carguy (www.carguy.kr)
Tesla’s robotaxi unveiling, scheduled for October 10th, is just around the corner. CEO Elon Musk has long emphasized that the company’s future relies on AI and robotics, rather than solely on electric car sales. At the heart of this vision is a fully autonomous car that can be used as a ‘robotaxi’ without a driver.
A test vehicle, believed to be a Tesla robotaxi, was recently spotted at Warner Bros. Studios. The bright yellow prototype appears to be a compact car with two doors. Musk has confirmed that he is “almost done developing a vehicle specifically designed for ‘robotaxis’ instead of the existing Model 3 sedan or Model Y SUV.” This robotaxi is likely to be called the ‘Cybercab.’
Musk has been claiming for the past decade that Tesla’s self-driving capabilities will soon become a reality. Tesla owners will be able to use their vehicles as robotaxis to earn extra income. In support of this, Tesla executives have repeatedly mentioned the idea of robotaxis specifically designed for this purpose in recent years.
The robotaxi project is being prioritized over Tesla’s other new car projects. Previously, the development of the low-cost ‘Model 2’ model was the key, but now the focus is on the robotaxi project. Musk continues to emphasize that “fully autonomous driving functions must be implemented before robotaxis can be provided to customers.”
However, most experts predict that robotaxis currently have not fully implemented autonomous driving. The unveiling of robotaxis this time does not mean that they will enter mass production soon. In fact, it took about four years for the previous Cybertruck to be delivered to customers after being unveiled in 2019.
Robotaxis are expected to have a different design from existing Tesla vehicles. In 2022, Musk said, “Robotaxis will have no steering wheel or pedals, and their design will also be very futuristic.” The book ‘Elon Musk’ revealed that the initial design had a polygonal shape similar to the ‘Cybertruck.’
Tesla’s taxi service is described as “a combination of Airbnb and Uber,” meaning that Tesla owners would be able to rent out their cars as robotaxis. However, it has been confirmed that this plan is just a plan and has not yet been implemented.
The existing Tesla FSD and Autopilot technologies are embroiled in various controversies. The success of robotaxis depends on how well Tesla implements fully autonomous driving technology. In addition, comprehensive regulations for building a robotaxi network have not yet been established in the United States.
It is still unknown how Tesla will draw the future through robotaxis. However, Tesla’s new attempts and innovations have almost succeeded, even if it took some time. It is no exaggeration to say that Tesla’s stock price in the future depends on the mass production of fully autonomous robotaxis.