Tesla CEO Elon Musk is set to reveal the company's much-anticipated robotaxi prototype, named the Cybercab, on Thursday at Warner Bros Studios in Burbank, California.
Self-driving cars have long been a passion for Musk, who has made bold predictions about their potential to save lives and generate income for owners by being rented out for rides or even overnight stays. However, as he takes the stage at the event, titled "We, Robot," Musk faces pressure to address ongoing skepticism regarding Tesla's ability to deliver on his ambitious plans.
The project has faced delays, originally planned for an August release but postponed to October. Musk attributed the latest delay to last-minute changes he requested. In a July post on his social media platform, X, he stated, "Requested what I think is an important design change to the front, and extra time allows us to show off a few other things."
Despite these delays, analysts believe it is time for Tesla to demonstrate tangible progress. Jessica Caldwell from edmunds.com commented, "After discussing the Robotaxi concept without solid details for so long, there is significant anticipation. The expectation is that this event should clarify the concept," she added, noting that it would be disappointing if Tesla fails to present a fully developed prototype and operational details.
Few details have been revealed about the Cybercab so far. Reports suggest it will feature two seats and butterfly doors, and will rely on cameras and computing power for navigation, instead of Lidar sensors favored by competitors.
Musk has hinted that some Tesla robotaxis could be owned by the company itself, while Tesla vehicle owners may have the option to rent their cars on Tesla's network when not in use. Analysts at Wedbush expect live demonstrations of the prototype at the event, along with projections on scaling the Cybercab, its cost per mile, and a possible Tesla ride-share app.
The "We, Robot" event coincides with recent high-profile departures from Tesla, including the head of the company’s new vehicles program. Some industry observers believe Tesla should prioritize a low-cost electric vehicle to fend off increasing competition from other EV manufacturers.
Tesla has long aimed to compete with Alphabet's Waymo, which already operates driverless cars in cities like San Francisco, Phoenix, and Los Angeles. Last week, Waymo announced plans to add the Hyundai Ioniq 5 to its robotaxi fleet after on-road testing.
Despite Musk’s enthusiasm and the high stakes for Tesla, the media coverage for this event appears more subdued than some of his previous product launches. For instance, the BBC was not invited to the unveiling, and Bloomberg TV anchor publicly noted on X that they too were unable to secure access.
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