Tesla Unveils ‘CyberCab’ Robotaxi and Robovan
At tonight’s “We, Robot” event, Tesla CEO Elon Musk revealed the company’s latest advancements in autonomous technology, showcasing a fleet of 50 fully self-driving vehicles, including the Model Y and a new prototype, the “CyberCab.”
These driverless CyberCab vehicles, featuring no steering wheel or pedals, were operating completely independently throughout the event.
Musk outlined Tesla’s plans for the future of autonomy, predicting that unsupervised Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology will be available as soon as 2025 in Texas and California.
The new CyberCab is expected to enter production by 2026, with autonomous operations extending to other models like the Model 3, Model Y, and the upcoming Cybertruck.
“We’ll see autonomous cars become 10 times safer than a human driver,” Musk said. “It’s going to be a glorious future, it’s going to be special.” He explained that a fully autonomous car will offer more value by utilizing more of its potential driving time. “The same car could have 5-10 times more value if it’s on the road for 168 hours a week instead of just 10.”
The company envisions its Robotaxi service as a premium point-to-point transport solution accessible to everyone. With the removal of the driver fee and no need for expensive radar or lidar equipment, the cost is expected to be significantly lower.
Musk stated that the cost for the CyberCab could drop to around 20 cents per mile, with a final price tag below $30,000 USD.
“Autonomy means you get your time back, and it will save lives and prevent injuries,” he added, noting that FSD technology is trained using billions of miles of real-world video data from Tesla’s fleet of over 8 million vehicles. This extensive data collection allows the cars to react to rare and unpredictable scenarios more safely and efficiently than a human driver.
Tesla also hinted at an ambitious plan for its AI5 computer, which will be used in the CyberCab. This new AI system will provide the computing power necessary for full autonomy, without the need for costly equipment.
Musk stated that the new AI could be “massively overspec’d” for the task, ensuring exceptional performance at a lower cost. He also hinted at being able to sell excess compute from CyberCab, similar to Amazon’s AWS.
The event featured 20 CyberCab prototypes driving autonomously within a 20-30 acre area, showcasing Tesla’s vision for a future where robotic taxis provide fast, affordable, and sustainable transportation. With inductive charging capabilities, the Robotaxi will eliminate the need for plug-in charging, enhancing convenience for users.
“Today’s transportation is costly, unsafe, and not sustainable,” Tesla said during the event. “Our vision for autonomy is safer, faster, and more affordable, making it the ride of the future.”
Tesla plans to roll out unsupervised FSD technology wherever regulators permit, paving the way for a transportation revolution. As Musk concluded, “I think it’s going to be a glorious future.”