At the much-anticipated “We, Robot” event held at Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank, California, Tesla CEO Elon Musk unveiled the company’s new Cybercab, a fully autonomous vehicle he promises will hit the market for less than $30,000. Musk also teased the Robovan, an autonomous van capable of carrying 20 passengers, as part of his broader vision for a driverless future.
Arriving at the event in a Cybercab himself, Musk appeared with his signature flair—this time accompanied by a man dressed in a space suit. Human-like robots mingled with the crowd, serving drinks and even breaking out into dance, underscoring the futuristic vibe of the evening.
Musk’s Cybercab, the star of the event, boasts a sleek design with no steering wheel or pedals and uses inductive charging instead of traditional plugs. He described the vehicle as a comfortable “lounge on wheels” that will allow passengers to relax, sleep, or watch movies while traveling. The car, priced below $30,000, is expected to be in production by 2026—or “before 2027,” as Musk cautiously added, noting his usual optimism with deadlines.
For years, skeptics have questioned whether Tesla could deliver on its promises of fully self-driving cars, and the company has faced numerous delays and regulatory challenges. However, Musk insists Tesla has made significant strides, particularly with its Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology. By next year, the company plans to introduce autonomous driving to its Model 3 and Model Y cars in California and Texas, pending regulatory approval. The billionaire envisions a future where autonomous cars operate like Uber, with owners creating their own fleets of ride-share vehicles.
“It’s going to be a glorious future,” Musk proclaimed, adding that autonomous vehicles would reclaim urban spaces by turning parking lots into parks, and make roads exponentially safer. “With that amount of training data, it’s obviously going to be much better than a human can be because you can’t live a million lives,” he said. “It’ll be 10, 20, 30 times safer than a human.”
While the Robovan was also teased during the event, Musk gave few details about when it would be available or how much it would cost. The vehicle is designed to carry up to 20 passengers or goods, presenting opportunities for ride-sharing or cargo delivery.
Tesla’s humanoid robots, dubbed Optimus, were also showcased, with Musk predicting that they could be mass-produced for up to $30,000. The robots performed a choreographed dance to Daft Punk’s “Robot Rock” to cap off the event, adding a theatrical touch to the unveiling.
Despite the excitement, challenges loom for Tesla. The company is facing a class-action lawsuit from customers who have yet to receive the full self-driving technology they were promised. Additionally, U.S. safety regulators have placed Tesla under scrutiny following a series of accidents involving its autopilot systems.
Still, Musk remains undeterred, confident that his vision of a driverless future is just around the corner. As always, time will tell if Tesla can finally make good on its ambitious goals.
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