On Thursday, the Tesla Cybercab electric vehicle (EV) was unveiled at the “We, the Robots” event. The highly anticipated robotaxi was launched at the Warner Bros. plant in Burbank, California, as a competitor to companies such as Alphabet’s Waymo, joining Tesla’s Cybertruck, Model 3 and Model S in its lineup of self-driving cars. However, unlike the aforementioned vehicles, it doesn’t have a dedicated steering wheel or any paddles, hinting at the possibility of billionaire Elon Musk’s vision of a driverless future coming to fruition.
In addition to Cybercab, Musk also launched Robovan and showed off Optimus, a universal humanoid robot. The billionaire also reiterated his commitment to bring self-driving capabilities to Tesla Model 3 and Model Y in California and Texas by 2025.
Tesla Cybercab Features
With the launch of Cybercab, Musk’s Tesla aims to break into the robotaxi market, where Waymo is currently a major player in the United States, operating a fleet of self-driving cars. Tesla’s robotaxis won’t come with any pedals or even a steering wheel. Instead, it will rely on artificial intelligence (AI) and an array of sensors and cameras to drive and drive to a set destination, leveraging the company’s Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) Level 2-based FSD system.
Inside the Tesla Cybercab
Image source: Tesla
The Cybercab appears to have a coupe-like two-door design. It has butterfly doors and a large touchscreen display in the center console—a design element now synonymous with Tesla vehicles. The rest of the interior will be minimalist, with no visible buttons on the center console. A single LED light strip runs along the entire front and rear of the Cybercab, while its sloping roof appears to be inspired by the Tesla Cybertruck. Unlike other Tesla vehicles that need to be plugged into a power source, the robotaxi will feature inductive charging, using electromagnetic power induction to power the device.
While no other details were revealed, such as possible powertrains or range, Musk promised that the Cybercab would be priced under $30,000 (roughly Rs. 25 lakh) in the US and operating costs could be as low as $0.20 per mile (roughly Rs. 17). The Tesla Cybercab is expected to enter production in 2026.
At the event, Tesla also unveiled the Robovan, a 20-seat vehicle that serves as a shared, low-cost solution for travelers. However, the billionaire didn’t delve into the details of the prototype.
Updates for the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y have also been rolled out. Musk promised that Tesla would offer self-driving capabilities to vehicles in California and Texas by the end of next year.
