Tesla has finally unveiled its long-awaited robotaxi, previously known as "Cybercab" and "Robotaxi," at an event on Thursday night. The striking two-seater vehicle features a cutting-edge design, including butterfly doors and wireless charging capabilities. The most notable aspect, however, is that it completely lacks a steering wheel. This vehicle is intended for a future where passengers can sit back and allow the car to manage the driving. Despite this, questions linger about its self-driving abilities. Let's dive into the specifics.
Cybercab Makes an Impression
To kick things off, the Cybercab is certainly a showstopper. It was presented with a gold finish and has a light bar that appears to hold matrix headlights, drawing parallels to the Cybertruck. Moreover, it’s not just the absence of a steering wheel that’s interesting; this model has no pedals or even a rear window. Instead, it depends entirely on cameras and sensors to provide a complete view of its environment. In a dramatic moment, Tesla’s CEO, Elon Musk, made a grand entrance on stage while seated inside the Cybercab.
The Interior Experience
Inside, the atmosphere resembles that of a lounge, and passengers can enjoy generous cargo space thanks to its large hatchback trunk. One of the standout features is the wireless induction charging. This vehicle is the first from Tesla to eliminate the traditional charging port. However, the event didn’t clarify important technical specifics, such as the battery capacity or charging speed. Inductive charging utilizes electromagnetic fields to transfer energy from a pad to the battery, allowing for a cable-free experience. Musk stated, “The robotaxi has no plug. It just goes over the inductive charger and charges. So, yeah, that’s kind of how it should be.”
Questions About Autonomy
Now, let’s tackle the main concern — the self-driving technology. Tesla has been claiming fully autonomous driving for several years now, but even models with the “Full Self-Driving (FSD)” package still require human oversight. This raises concerns about the Cybercab’s absence of driver controls. Musk insists that the Cybercab uses the latest Tesla AI5 computer and operates purely on camera systems. He also mentioned plans to enable unsupervised Full Self-Driving in specific areas next year for current models. However, this promise has been repeated for the last five years. Furthermore, data indicates that Tesla must significantly improve its disengagement rates (the instances when a human driver must take over) before unsupervised driving can be realized. Thus, skepticism about Musk’s assertions remains.
Price and Future Outlook
Regarding price and release, Musk indicated that production for the Cybercab would start “before 2027,” with an expected cost of under $30,000. However, we must remember that Tesla’s second-generation Roadster, first revealed in 2017, still hasn’t begun series production. Therefore, there’s no assurance that the Cybercab won’t encounter similar delays. The anticipation is high, but only time will reveal if Tesla and Musk can fulfill these commitments.
