Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, announced the company’s new fleet of autonomous electric vehicles called Cybercabs at an event in California. The Cybercabs are sleek vehicles resembling the Cybertruck, without a steering wheel or pedals, designed to shuttle passengers without drivers. Musk also teased a larger version called the Robovan, capable of carrying up to 20 people. He stated that the Cybercabs would go on sale by 2026 for under $30,000, highlighting the potential cost savings compared to traditional transportation methods.
Musk emphasized the time-saving benefits of autonomous vehicles, stating that with autonomy, people would regain control of their time. He also announced plans to launch fully autonomous driving in California and Texas next year, with estimated operating costs for the Cybertrucks as low as $0.20 per mile. This marks a shift in Tesla’s vision, moving beyond electric vehicle production to focus on AI and autonomous software. The announcement comes as Tesla faces declining EV sales and increasing competition in the electric vehicle market.
The unveiling of the Cybercabs puts Tesla in direct competition with Waymo, Google’s self-driving car division, which has been a leader in autonomous vehicles with significant investments from Alphabet. Waymo’s service is already operational in several cities, while Cruise, part of General Motors, has resumed autonomous driving testing after a previous accident involving a pedestrian. Tesla has also faced controversy over its driving software, with incidents such as a Tesla using the “Full Self Driving” feature hitting and killing a motorcyclist in Seattle earlier this year.
The event, which was streamed to over 3.3 million viewers on Musk’s social platform X, also featured an updated version of Tesla’s Optimus humanoid robots. Musk stated that these robots, priced at $20,000 to $30,000, would eventually be capable of serving drinks, babysitting, and performing various chores. He projected that the Optimus robots would be a groundbreaking product, with the potential to revolutionize various industries. The presentation concluded with a group of Optimus robots dancing to the tune of “What is Love?” at a gazebo.
Overall, Musk’s announcement of the Cybercabs and Optimus robots reflects Tesla’s ambition to expand its offerings beyond electric vehicles and into the realm of autonomous technology. The competition with established players like Waymo poses a challenge, but Musk’s vision for Tesla’s future showcases a commitment to innovation and growth. As the company navigates controversies and market fluctuations, the introduction of new products signals a new chapter for Tesla and its role in the evolving automotive and technology industries.
