Tesla unveiled its vision for a self-driving ‘robotaxi’ on Thursday, a development that CEO Elon Musk claims will significantly boost the company’s value. The vehicle, which Musk has dubbed a ‘cybercab,’ is projected to cost under $30,000 and become available before 2027. Musk, acknowledging a tendency toward optimism, offered the timeline during the presentation.
While the unveiling generated high anticipation among investors, the timeline and lack of specific details somewhat disappointed them. Tesla’s share price experienced a roughly 8% decrease the following Friday afternoon.
The prototype ‘robotaxi’ features no steering wheel or pedals, and represents Musk’s bet on the company’s future. Musk stated the vehicle, appearing to be constructed from stainless steel, will transport passengers without human intervention, a capability already demonstrated by other companies in select locales like Phoenix and San Francisco.
“You could fall asleep and wake up at your destination,” Musk affirmed.
The event, held at the Warner Bros. studio near Los Angeles, began nearly an hour behind schedule due to a guest’s medical emergency, according to Musk. Guests were offered rides around the movie sets, though some found the demonstrations underwhelming.
