LOS ANGELES, Oct 11: Tesla CEO Elon Musk presented the company’s latest innovations at a high-profile event on Thursday, unveiling a robotaxi with no steering wheel or pedals, and a larger autonomous vehicle known as the “Robovan.” The event, titled “We, Robot,” took place at Warner Bros Studios near Los Angeles and highlighted Tesla’s transition from a mass-market electric car manufacturer to an AI and robotics company.
Musk arrived on stage in a sleek “Cybercab,” a futuristic robotaxi featuring two gull-wing doors. He announced that the vehicle would enter production in 2026, with a starting price of under $30,000. He projected operational costs to eventually be as low as 20 cents per mile, powered by inductive charging technology that eliminates the need for plug-in chargers. Musk emphasized that the Cybercab relies purely on AI and cameras, unlike competitors that use additional hardware like LIDAR.
Musk’s approach, which focuses on using minimal hardware for autonomous driving, has attracted both interest and skepticism from analysts, who see technical and regulatory hurdles ahead. Competitors like Alphabet’s Waymo rely on more complex sensor systems for their autonomous vehicles.
Musk also revealed that 50 fully autonomous Tesla vehicles, including Model Ys and the Cybercab, were on-site at the event, all operating driverless. Additionally, Musk introduced the “Robovan,” a larger self-driving vehicle capable of carrying up to 20 passengers, aimed at solving larger transport needs.
Tesla’s Optimus humanoid robot also made an appearance, reflecting Musk’s broader ambition to position Tesla as an AI robotics company rather than just an automaker. Musk stated that Tesla is working toward operating a fleet of self-driving taxis that users can hail through an app. Individual Tesla owners will also be able to list their vehicles as robotaxis to earn income when not in use.
The event drew a mix of excitement and concern among attendees, which included investors, analysts, and Tesla fans. Some investors were disappointed by the lack of specific details about Tesla’s production timelines, regulatory plans, and how it would outpace competitors in the robotaxi market. Dennis Dick, an equity trader at Triple D Trading and a Tesla shareholder, commented, “Everything looks cool, but not much in terms of time lines, I’m a shareholder and pretty disappointed. I think the market wanted more definitive time lines.”
Musk acknowledged that he tends to be optimistic about deadlines, but focused on Tesla’s long-term vision for autonomous vehicles. Despite the impressive showcase, many investors left wanting more information about how Tesla will scale production, navigate regulatory challenges, and compete with established players like Waymo.
