Musk reveals new robotaxi concept, Tesla’s latest self-driving dream

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has unveiled a robotaxi called ‘Cybercab’, aiming to shift the focus from affordable electric cars to robotic vehicles. Set to cost under $30,000, the vehicle features gull-wing doors, no steering wheel or pedals, and is expected to enter mass production by 2026. Musk also introduced a robovan designed to carry up to 20 passengers.

Despite Musk’s bold vision for autonomous driving, experts raised concerns about safety, regulation, and the practicality of his timeline. Musk acknowledged previous delays but reaffirmed his belief that self-driving technology would drastically improve road safety, predicting a tenfold improvement over human drivers. However, little detail was provided on how Tesla plans to outpace its competitors.

Tesla’s new approach favours AI and camera-based technology, rather than the more common lidar, posing challenges both technically and in terms of regulation. Musk also teased advancements in Tesla’s humanoid robot ‘Optimus’, which is projected to cost between $20,000 and $30,000 and could perform household tasks in the future.

The event marked a pivotal moment in Tesla’s shift towards autonomous transportation. However, concerns linger about Musk’s ability to deliver on these promises, especially as Tesla faces increased competition in the robotaxi market and risks missing its delivery targets for the year.