Remember the AI-generated image of a Cybertruck teased by Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla a few months back? It created a frenzy as Tesla enthusiasts were looking forward to this futuristic Cybertruck variant. Now, Musk has introduced the Cybercab, an autonomous electric vehicle, ahead of the invite-only “We, Robot” event.
Tesla Cybercab – the fully autonomous car
Picture credits: Tesla
The full self-driving vehicle showcased by Tesla is a compact, low, silver two-seater, which lacks a steering wheel and pedals. As per Musk, the company had 21 of these vehicles and 50 autonomous cars on the location at the Warner Bros. studio in California.
While Musk did not disclose any further details about the vehicle or when Tesla plans to produce it, it is expected that the Cybercar could be priced below $30,000. The production might debut before 2027.
Musk originally promised in 2019 to have a fleet of revenue-generating, self-driving robotaxis in operation as part of a Tesla Network in 2020.
20-seater Robovan
Picture credits: Tesla
Furthermore, Musk shared the plans to produce an autonomous, electric Robovan with the capacity to carry up to 20 people or to transport goods. Both Cybercab and Robovan could have inductive charging, wherein the autonomous vehicles could roll up to a station to recharge, without a plugging mechanism.
The long, autonomous electric van looks like a sci-fi train. While Musk has teased the idea of a Tesla Robovan multiple times, it appears to have a refreshingly different.
“I think the cost of autonomous transport will be so low that you can think of it like individualized mass transit,” said Musk, at the invite-only event from a Warner Bros. Studio set in Burbank, California. The average cost of a bus is about a dollar per passenger mile while the Cybercab will probably be around 20 cents per mile in operating cost and 30 to 40 cents per mile, which will make it a cheaper alternative.
Tesla’s full self-driving vision
He revealed that the company could have “unsupervised FSD” up and running in California and Texas next year in its Model 3 and Model Y electrical vehicles. FSD aka Full Self-Driving is Tesla’s premium driver assistance system, available today in a supervised version for the company’s electric vehicles. Currently, it requires a human driver at the wheel, ready to steer or brake at any time.
Humanoid robot on cards
Picture credits: Tesla
The CEO further said Tesla wanted to show its humanoid robot dubbed Optimus, which is in development. The Optimus robots can walk alongside humans. The livestream also showed a group of Optimus robots dancing. It would be able to teach or babysit kids, walk the dog, get groceries, serve drinks or “just be your friend.”
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