Tesla boss Elon Musk announces the company's entry into the robotaxi business with a big show in Hollywood. But many questions remain unanswered.
Tesla Cybercab
Tesla
Tesla CEO Elon Musk is betting on a robotaxi and a self-driving bus for the future of the electric carmaker. The taxi, called "Cybercab", has two upward-opening scissor doors and looks like a coupe based on the Tesla bestseller Model 3.
The "Cybercab" will also be available to buy – and should cost less than $30,000, Musk said. Tesla plans to start production of the vehicle in 2026. At the same time, the tech billionaire admitted that he tends to be overly optimistic about schedules.
Initially, software for autonomous driving, in which humans do not have to intervene, is to be launched in the coming year in Texas and California in the current Model 3 and Model Y vehicles. Musk still wants to manage without expensive technology such as the laser radars of other self-driving cars, using only cameras and software.
Musk also presented a futuristic-looking self-driving bus called "Robovan", which can fit up to 20 people. The wedge-shaped front is somewhat reminiscent of earlier visions of the future for locomotives. The "Robovan" could also transport goods, Musk said. There was no information as to when the vehicles could hit the road.
Tesla's humanoid robot "Optimus" also made an appearance, which, according to Musk, will be "the greatest product of any kind ever". Every person will have at least one as a mechanical helper.
Robotaxi Rides in Hollywood Studio
Musk was driven to the stage at the event, which took place on the grounds of the Hollywood studio Warner Bros. in Los Angeles, by one of the "Cybercabs" without a steering wheel and pedals. Since it is a private property, Tesla did not need permission from the traffic authorities for the event, which had been in preparation for weeks.
Tesla provided a small fleet of "cybercabs" to chauffeur those present around the extensive film sets. Analysts and Tesla influencers who praise the electric car company and its founder excessively online were invited. Media representatives were not welcome. Musk took time out of his election campaign support for Donald Trump, who wants to move back into the White House in November, for the event.
Tesla Robovan
Tesla
Waymo is a Pioneer in Robotaxis
The fact is that robotaxis have been on the road for a long time, at least in the US. Google's sister company Waymo is particularly far ahead, with its vehicles without a human at the wheel making more than 100,000 passenger trips in four US cities every week. In San Francisco in particular, Waymo's self-driving Jaguar electric vehicles are a permanent fixture in the cityscape.
Not only in the US, but also in China, it is too late, said industry expert Ferdinand Dudenhöffer. "Robotaxis have been driving in large numbers in China for three years. By the time Musk enters the market with this, they will be on the road in all major cities in China." He has no chance there.
Musk is counting on fleet size – and price – in the race for the autonomous future. A current Waymo vehicle can have technology on board for around $100,000, as co-head Dmitri Dolgov recently said in an appearance. If Tesla were to actually succeed in implementing autonomous driving using only cameras, that would be a significant cost advantage – not to mention the several million vehicles that are already on the road. However, it is still unclear whether the goal can be achieved at all using Musk's methods.
Dudenhöffer also finds the announced price of $30,000 hard to believe. "His autopilot has shown how weak cameras are as sensors for autonomous driving. Slight weather influences, for example, can blind the cameras. This makes accidents inevitable." The Cybercab is "a bet that doesn't pay off."
Grand Promises since 2016
Musk has repeatedly announced since 2016 that Tesla would soon make a breakthrough in autonomous driving. A year later, he said that people at the wheel would be able to sleep while driving in a few months. He also promised years ago that all Tesla owners would be able to send their cars on a robotaxi platform to make money on their own. Tesla has been charging car buyers in advance for the ability to drive autonomously for a long time. Investors seem to take the big promises seriously time and again.
In reality, Tesla's "Autopilot" is only an advanced driver assistance system, even in the advanced version with the addition of "Full Self-Driving" (FSD). Drivers are always responsible and must be ready to take control at any time.
Tesla drivers in the US have been able to test a beta version of the FSD variant of "Autopilot" for several years. Even recently, many reported that the software tries to drive through red lights or turn from the wrong lane. As a result, drivers have to repeatedly take the wheel.
Residents Annoyed by Robotaxis
Waymo's robotaxis, on the other hand, navigate confidently through San Francisco's heavy traffic. They drive around parked vehicles at the side of the road, turn left at intersections without traffic lights and brake for road users who take their right of way. But Waymo cars also make mistakes that get on the nerves of San Francisco residents. Sometimes they come to a stop and block traffic. Recently, one of the robotaxis stopped in the middle of the road while Vice President Kamala Harris' motorcade approached. A police officer had to get behind the wheel and drive the car to the side.
Robotaxi Instead of Cheaper Model 2
Musk postponed the development of a cheaper Tesla model on a new platform for the robotaxi, which was supposed to open up a larger market for the pioneer. Instead, Musk announced that Tesla's future lies in autonomous driving.
In recent months, Tesla's once rapid growth has slowed significantly. Accordingly, the share price is also significantly lower than the former highs, at which Tesla was worth more than a trillion dollars. Musk is known for repeatedly igniting investors' imaginations with grandiose promises and visions of the future. The share price is not insignificant for Musk: Tesla's stake accounts for a large portion of his wealth, which the financial service Bloomberg currently estimates at more than $250 billion.
This is a partly automated translation of this German article by dpa.
