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Tesla CEO Elon Musk first floated the idea of launching a robotaxi network using autonomous Teslas in 2019, saying he…
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Tesla is gearing up to reveal its Robotaxi this Thursday , and everyone wants to know what it will look like , whether Tesla will unveil a commercialization strategy , and what outrageous timelines Elon Musk might announce to demote Tesla ’s stock .
The “ We , Robot ” issue will take place at 7 p.m. PT at Warner Bros. Discovery ’s pic studio in Burbank , California , and we ’ve got detail onhow to follow it here . Plus , you could follow along with our own reaction to the Robotaxi event right here via our hot blog .
Musk had earlier planned to bring out the Robotaxi – which he has also advert to as a Cybercab – on August 8 . That ’s a deadline Musk set for himself and Tesla a few hours after aReuters reportfound that the automaker shelvedits planto build a lower - cost EV and would alternatively center its resources on a robotaxi .
While Musk ab initio charge Reuters of lying , over the next yoke of weeks , Tesla indeed lay off 10 % of staffto usher in a “ next phase of emergence , ” and Musk enjoin Tesla would be going “ balls to the wallfor autonomy . ”
Tesla has seldom lodge to Musk ’s timelines , and as require , this Robotaxi event cease up getting pushed back to October after Musk requested “ an important design change to the front . ”
investor who have backed Tesla ’s vision for autonomy have been wait for Tesla to last disclose a Robotaxi . But the timing might not be large . Tesla ’s margins have take a hit over the retiring year or sodue to ramped up Cybertruck output , among other factors . Its third - quarter deliveries were somewhatdisappointing , and Tesla has issued itsfifth Cybertruck recallwithin a year of found the fomite .
A unexampled vehicle would have in mind more investment funds into product lines , factory downtime , and other potentially high-priced issues – things investors do n’t make love to learn about .
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Whether it ’s all hype or at least some substance , we will soon find out . But here ’s what we expect to see .
A Cybercab prototype
The independent thing we wait to see is a prototype for a new fomite concept , which will be Tesla ’s first since it announced the Cybertruck back in November 2019 .
Musk has mention to the robotaxi as a Cybercab , which seems to confirm the design conception revealedlast yearin Walter Isaacson ’s biography of the executive – a two - door , two - seater , Cybertruck - corresponding compact vehicle , complete with angulate edges and a stainless steel finish .
The vehicle will also likely be built without asteering cycle or pedals . While Tesla engineers have preach against this at launch , Musk has been steady in his desire to work a aim - built fomite to mart , per Isaacson ’s book .
Tesla may melt down up against regulatory return for that design choice , which do n’t align with federal motor condom standards , and we partially expect Musk to apply that as a ground why getting the Cybercab to market will be difficult .
Tesla ’s lead designer , Franz Von Holzhausen , say TechCrunch ’s Kirsten Korosec that the troupe ’s existing vehicle portfolio haslaid the foundationfor what ’s to come with the Robotaxi .
“ In a unusual sort of way , we ’ve been working our way — in a very public elbow room — to what an self-directed hereafter will look like , ” Von Holzhausen said . “ So you see the big interface that we have , the direction it ’s configurable and upgradable , and we impart a variety of entertainment pieces to it , and some humor as well . And I think that will continue to evolve . ”
Smoke and mirrors
Tesla usually host its vainglorious reveal events at one of its facilities , so the Hollywood studio option is a stride - variety that signals Musk ’s showmanship will be on display .
The studio apartment in question is heart-to-heart to the public for tours , so visitors ( who are primarily Tesla shareholders and superfans ) will get the chance to be dazzled by the set of Batman , Friends , Gilmore Girls , The Big Bang Theory , Harry Potter and other claim .
It also allow Tesla to take advantage of the large sound stages and sets , some of which resemble a slice of suburbia and even a small business district orbit . This could be the staring space for Tesla to do a demo of its Cybercab in autonomous action – it ’s a controlled , closed environment with no other traffic where the railroad car will be able-bodied to drive itself at low speed .
We remember the demonstration could sport the ride - hailing app that Tesla tantalise during itsfirst - quartern salary callin April .
Other vehicle and product announcements
The title of the issue , “ We , Robot ” , is a nod to Isaac Asimov ’s serial of skill fiction short history called “ I , Robot ” which explores the human relationship between robot and human being . As such , many consider the case will feature update on Optimus , Tesla ’s humanoid automaton . That said , Asimov ’s story roll aroundthree legal philosophy of roboticsthat prioritise human refuge – 1 ) A robot may not injure a human being or allow a homo to be injured through inaction ; 2 ) A robot must obey orders given by a human being unless that conflicts with the first law ; 3 ) A robot must protect its own existence unless that contravene the first and 2nd laws . Those fit neatly into autonomous driving .
The firm also cogitate Tesla will allow for more item on a Cybervan , a amply self-reliant passenger van that could in the future augment public transportation . This prediction is based on Tesla ’s March 2023 investor presentation that featured a lineup of Tesla ’s current and succeeding vehicles , let in a vexer of a van - sized gondola .
Some potential wildcards
Building a robotaxi is one affair . Commercializing it is another . Tesla may be able to bank on the singularity of its vehicles and the company ’s general fan power to attract customers for a ride - hail inspection and repair , but many wo n’t want to make the switch to a service that will in all probability be less reliable at launch .
One wildcard prognostication we have is that Tesla could harbinger a partnership withUber , which has demonstrated that its existing world ride - hail program is attractive to autonomous vehicle company . Over the past few weeks , Uber has been bless on AV company at a rapid clip , includingWaymo , Cruise , Wayve , and others . While Musk seems to want to go it alone , partnering might be the best agency to actually commercialize these vehicles .
Another potential wildcard is that McDonald ’s is involved in this somehow , based onan X postfrom the fast food chain last hebdomad that said , “ chat ’s about to pop off 10.10 . ” Musk replied with the jest - crying emoji , so we might expect to see some kind of autonomous food delivery demo or announcement with McDonald ’s on Thursday .
😂
What we don’t expect to see
There will be plenty of hype and yak about Musk ’s visual modality of an autonomous future , during which the executive will in all probability make the same argument that Uber made a decennary ago about the possible action for shared rides – it will be so gentle and cheap to hail an AV , that the great unwashed wo n’t need to own their own vehicle .
A rose-cheeked picture , but one that we do n’t expect to be back up Thursday with a clean course to commercialisation .
In the past , Musk has said Tesla vehicles on the roadstead today would be able-bodied to get along to autonomy with merely a computer software update , provide owners to add their cars to Tesla ’s drive - sharing app and hire them out to make extra Johnny Cash . Tesla has say it would take something like 25 % to 30 % of the revenue from those rides , and in shoes where there are n’t enough people to share cars , the auto maker would provide a consecrated fleet of robotaxis .
Musk has been promising a fully autonomous Tesla for yr now , but has yet to introduce one . Despite Tesla ’s advancement in its advanced number one wood assistance organization , identify Full Self - Driving ( FSD ) , the tech is still not fully ego - drive . It requires a human driver to be heedful behind the wheel and take over if require .
This might be why Adam Jonas of Morgan Stanley , who is an undeniable Tesla bull , said he expects Tesla will offer a “ ‘ three-fold ’ approach with regard to sovereign ridesharing . ” There will be a ‘ supervised ’ autonomous / FSD rideshare help , and a fully independent app - based Cybercab , he enjoin , with an gestate initial commercial launching slat for former 2025 or 2026 .
When it come to production of the Cybercabs themselves , the analysts at Deepwater point to the meantime between Tesla ’s unveiling of product and ramping yield . The minimal gap of 10 month was with the Model Y , whereas the Cybertruck engage 48 month , and the Semi is at 79 calendar month and reckoning . Tesla delivered a smattering ofSemis in December 2022 , but has yet to storm up to loudness production .
“ This suggests the start of yield for any of the vehicles announce in August would begin in June of 2025 at the earliest , ” Deepwater wrote .
And since the robotaxi event got push back so Tesla could “ make some important changes , ” then the product is still potential a long way off from being quick to go to product .
From the Storyline:Tesla We, Robot event: Everything Elon Musk just showed, including the Cybercab, Robovan, and more
Tesla CEO Elon Musk first floated the idea of launching a robotaxi connection using self-governing Teslas in 2019 , articulate he …
