Key Takeaways
- New report claims Tesla has delayed the introduction of the robotaxi.
- Due to be revealed on August 8, the unveiling will now take place in October.
- Although unconfirmed, designers were reportedly asked to redesign the robotaxi.
Tesla is reportedly delaying the introduction of its robotaxi by two months, with the launch now set to take place in October instead of August, reports Bloomberg. Earlier this year, CEO Elon Musk confirmed that the robotaxi (expected to adopt the Cybercab name) would debut on August 8.
This has since reportedly been pushed back as Tesla designers were asked to redesign the vehicle. As such, more time is required to build new prototypes, says the report. Tesla is yet to confirm this, but the publication says news of the delay has been shared internally. If true, Musk will likely share an update via X in the coming weeks.
Tesla
Tesla, Inc. is an American electric vehicle manufacturer largely attributed to driving the EV revolution. Through the Model S and subsequent products, Tesla has innovated and challenged industry conventions on numerous fronts, including over-the-air updates, self-driving technology, and automotive construction methods. Tesla is considered the world’s most valuable car brand as of 2023, and the Model Y the world’s best-selling car in the same year, but the brand’s greatest achievement is arguably the Supercharger network of EV charging stations.
- Founded
- July 1, 2003
- Founder
- Martin Eberhard, Marc Tarpenning
- Headquarters
- Austin, Texas, USA
- Owned By
- Publicly Traded
- Current CEO
- Elon Musk
A Brief Recap Of The Robotaxi Saga
The automaker has said it is working on an affordable electric vehicle (positioned beneath the Model 3) with a price tag of around $25,000. Then, in April, a report from Reuters claimed that Tesla had canceled work on the entry-level EV in favor of a robotaxi. Musk immediately dismissed it as false and, not long after, shared the reveal date of the Cybercab.
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It remains to be seen whether work has stopped on the affordable electric car once expected to be called the Model 2, but reports suggest the all-new platform will underpin the forthcoming robotaxi. Last year, Musk said the $25,000 Tesla would be able to operate autonomously and serve as a self-driving taxi when not in use, providing the owner with additional income. That sounds like a robotaxi to us. Perhaps the Cybercab will be the best of both worlds, as described above. In other words, a private car with robotaxi capabilities.
When Will The Tesla Robotaxi Hit The Road?
Whatever the case, the Tesla robotaxi is likely still years away from being available to customers. While the automaker builds some truly innovative vehicles, it takes time for them to come to fruition. The long-awaited Cybertruck, for example, only arrived a couple of months ago despite being revealed in 2019. It’s a similar story with the Semi, with the first deliveries taking place five years after it was unveiled.
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Returning to the robotaxi, Tesla’s self-driving technology will play an essential role in turning this idea into a reality. Full-Self Driving (FSD) is getting better as the years roll on, even though it’s not as capable as the Level 3 systems offered by Mercedes-Benz and BMW. But as the latest batch of updates has shown us, advancements are being made, and by the time the robotaxi rolls around, who knows? Perhaps Tesla may have advanced to L3 or L4 self-driving. It’s worth noting that Musk previously said the robotaxi will enter production in 2024, but based on the current timeline, that is highly improbable.
Source:
Bloomberg