Tesla Cybercab and Cybervan

Tesla Cybercab and Cybervan Autonomous robotaxi without steering wheel and without schedule

2024-10-11 From Manuel Christa | Translated by AI 2 min Reading Time

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Tesla CEO Elon Musk presented the new prototype of the "Cybercab", an autonomous robotaxi, on Thursday evening. In a show, Musk displayed the two-seater vehicle, which operates without a steering wheel and pedals. He indicated that production could begin in 2026, with the model's price expected to be under $30,000. However, a more precise schedule was not provided, which was immediately felt by the stock price.

Elon Musk introduces Tesla Cybercab and Cybervan(Image: Tesla Motors) — Elon Musk introduces Tesla Cybercab and Cybervan
(Image: Tesla Motors)

During his unveiling event, Musk was accompanied to the stage by a person dressed as an astronaut and took a brief ride with the driverless prototype through the nighttime streets of a film studio. He emphasized that the presentation took place in an artificial environment—far removed from the real challenges that autonomous vehicles face in road traffic. Nevertheless, the vehicle is designed to operate without a steering wheel and pedals.

The event took place on the grounds of Warner Bros. Studios. The audience consisted only of analysts and Tesla influencers favorable to the company. Additionally, the event occurred with a two-month delay because Musk ordered last-minute changes to the design of the robot car.

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Tesla "Robovan": Musk introduces autonomous minibus

In addition to the Cybercab, Tesla also presented a "Robovan" designed to transport up to 20 people. Both concepts forego traditional controls and rely on autonomous driving. However, specific details about implementation and regulatory challenges were not provided. Musk promised that Tesla's "Full Self-Driving" technology (FSD) could be available unsupervised in California and Texas next year.

The event concluded with a presentation of the humanoid robot "Optimus," which is expected to be a significant revenue driver for Tesla in the future.

Investors immediately punish Tesla stock

Despite or rather due to the announcements at the event, the investor community was skeptical. The lack of details about the market launch and the feasibility of the robotaxi plans led to a nearly seven percent drop in Tesla stock before the start of trading. Analysts criticized the event for lacking clear figures and a specific timetable.

Tesla is also under pressure as competition in the market for electric and autonomous vehicles grows. While competitors such as Waymo already offer paid robotaxi services in several U.S. cities, Tesla has yet to bring fully autonomous vehicles to the road despite long-standing announcements.(mc)

In June 2024, Musk claimed that Optimus would go into limited production in 2025, with plans for more than 1,000 units to be used in Tesla facilities and the possibility of production for other companies in 2026. Optimus is trained by the Tesla supercomputer. (Image:Tesla)

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