Elon Musk Unveils Tesla’s Cybercab and Future Autonomous Plans

(AP) — Tesla has introduced its eagerly anticipated robotaxi, named the Cybercab, at a special event held at a Hollywood studio on Thursday night. However, fans of Tesla will need to wait until at least 2026 before they can get their hands on one of these futuristic vehicles.

During the event, CEO Elon Musk arrived on stage driving a Cybercab, a vehicle designed without steering wheels or pedals. He expressed optimism about the advancements in artificial intelligence that allow for truly autonomous driving, where cars can operate without human involvement.

Tesla has been marketing its “Full Self-Driving” (FSD) software for nine years, although skepticism remains regarding its effectiveness. Musk underscored plans to transition from supervised to completely unsupervised FSD, stating, “You could fall asleep and wake up at your destination. It’s going to be a glorious future.”

Musk indicated that the estimated price for a Cybercab would be below $30,000, and the launch could occur in 2026, potentially before 2027. Additionally, Tesla plans to introduce Full Self-Driving capabilities in the popular Model 3 and Model Y vehicles in Texas and California next year.

Seth Goldstein, an equity strategist at Morningstar Research, remarked that before fully deploying robotaxis, Tesla needs to prove its unsupervised FSD works reliably with its current vehicle lineup. “Tonight’s event showed that they’re ready to take that step forward,” he said.

However, uncertainty surrounding the timeline for Tesla’s advancements has created concern among investors, particularly as other automakers are making headway in autonomous technology. As a result, Tesla's stock dropped 9% at the market's opening the day after the announcement.

Companies like Waymo, the autonomous vehicle arm of Alphabet Inc., are already transporting passengers in self-driving cars in areas like Phoenix. Similarly, General Motors' Cruise division has been operating robotaxis in San Francisco, albeit facing setbacks following accidents.

Moreover, Aurora Innovation plans to introduce fully autonomous freight transport on Texas highways by the end of this year, while Gatik aims to achieve autonomous freight hauling by the close of 2025.

Bryant Walker Smith, a law professor who specializes in autonomous vehicles, voiced skepticism about Tesla's repeated claims of impending automated driving. He noted, “Tonight did not change this reality; it only made the irony more glaring,” referring to the existence of successfully deployed autonomous vehicles from other companies.

During the event, Tesla displayed around 20 Cybercabs, allowing attendees to experience rides within the studio lot instead of on city streets. Musk introduced another self-driving vehicle, resembling a minibus, capable of seating up to 20 passengers.

The event was aptly named “We, Robot,” and was streamed live on Tesla’s website and social media platforms. Musk also presented several Optimus humanoid robots that performed demonstrations, including dancing.

Musk predicted that the robots would cost between $28,000 and $30,000, claiming they would be versatile enough to handle various tasks, such as babysitting and grocery fetching. “Whatever you can think of, it will do,” he stated.

The introduction of the Cybercab comes as Musk aims to illustrate that Tesla’s focus is shifting towards artificial intelligence and robotics, in light of sluggish sales of its traditional electric vehicle offerings. Experts believe that the company’s lineup of models is aging and not expected to see significant updates until late next year at the earliest.

Furthermore, Musk's recent political endorsements are believed to tarnish Tesla's appeal among potential Democratic buyers. His support for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has raised eyebrows, particularly after attending a campaign rally with Trump.

Musk has previously suggested that a fleet of robotaxis would allow Tesla owners to earn money by allowing their vehicles to operate as taxis when not in use. While he has been enthusiastic about the progress, he has also admitted that earlier estimates for autonomous driving capabilities were overly ambitious, mentioning a promise made in 2019 for a fleet launch by the end of 2020.

This announcement coincides with ongoing investigations by U.S. safety regulators into the Full Self-Driving and Autopilot systems, especially regarding their capacity to ensure drivers remain alert. In February, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) mandated a recall for Full Self-Driving due to issues like speeding and traffic law violations.

Compounding concerns, a fatal accident involving a Tesla using Full Self-Driving in Washington last year has led to further scrutiny from the NHTSA and the Justice Department, which is seeking comprehensive information regarding these driving assistance technologies.

As Tesla moves into the future of autonomous driving, the industry watches closely, balancing hopes for innovation with caution about the path ahead.

Elon, Tesla, Cybercab