to leave a comment.
Cybercab launch private event 2 years after prototype release
There is no steering wheel, no pedals. Tesla's autonomous robotaxi (unmanned taxi) dedicated vehicle 'Cybercab', featuring a golden exterior and 'scissor doors' that open like wings, is expected to be unveiled.
AFP and Reuters reported that Tesla will hold a Cybercab launch event on the 3rd (local time) in Austin, Texas, USA, where its headquarters are located.
This comes approximately two years after the prototype was unveiled at the 'We, Robot' event held at Warner Bros. movie studios in Burbank, LA in 2024.
Elon Musk, CEO, heightened expectations by posting a short phrase 'Cybercab storm' and an image of the Cybercab appearing amidst a sandstorm in Austin on X (formerly Twitter).
This event was a private gathering for Tesla fans, existing robotaxi passengers, and influencers, and specific announcements have not yet been disclosed.
However, considering that Tesla began Cybercab production in April and has recently been conducting test drives on public roads, it seems likely that Cybercab will soon be officially utilized for robotaxi services.
Andrew Perkoco, a Morgan Stanley analyst, predicted, "If this event is merely a limited public unveiling, the stock price will fall, but if it leads to a widespread deployment that significantly impacts the scale of Tesla's robotaxi operations, it could excite investors."
Although Tesla is promoting robotaxis as one of its key future industries, it appears to be lagging behind Waymo, a subsidiary of Alphabet, in the autonomous unmanned taxi sector.
Waymo currently provides services in 11 US cities and has officially announced plans to expand into Munich, Germany.
Tesla launched its robotaxi service in Austin last year and is expanding its service areas to Florida and California.
How it will circumvent strict regulations from authorities, given the absence of a steering wheel and pedals, is also a matter of interest. Waymo, in contrast, retains all existing vehicle features such as a steering wheel, pedals, and side mirrors.
Amazon's 'Zoox' was granted an exception by the federal government last July for not having such devices.
Tesla is reportedly yet to apply for an exception with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in the US.
Newsletter
Get key news delivered to your email every morning
to leave a comment.