Tesla presents its robotaxi with the promise of being ready by 2027

Musk described the robotaxi as a “comfortable little lounge” in which the passenger can “do whatever they want” while reaching their destination. Without offering further technical and design details of Cybercab, the car that was shown to the public shows that it will have scissor doors, that is, they rotate vertically and open upwards, a touch that is more common in sports cars like the Lamborghini Murciélago;

In addition, he assured that Tesla has 50 units and hopes to begin “fully autonomous and unsupervised” driving next year in Texas and California with existing models, before moving on to the production of the “cybertaxi.”

Passenger vans and robots

Musk also showed off a passenger transport vehicle he called “Robovan.” It is a van without a steering wheel or space for the driver that has capacity for 20 people or can be transformed to transport goods. But he did not give details about production times.

The tycoon also introduced dancing humanoid robots called Optimus that, he said, will one day be able to perform household chores and provide company. “I think it will be the greatest product in history,” he said, adding that the robot would sell, according to his estimate, between 20,000 and 30,000 dollars.

He also did not give deadlines and in the presentation it was not clear what exactly the robot’s capabilities are, although it was seen walking among the public and serving drinks.

Tesla has to focus on selling electric cars

“His vision is lovely, but someone has to make it happen,” said Ross Gerber, a Tesla shareholder and CEO of Gerber Kawasaki Wealth and Investment Management.

“For now, for the next 24 months, Tesla has to sell electric vehicles. Why don’t we focus on that?”

Gerber said he likes to see products like the “Cybercab” and the “Robovan,” but hopes to also see a more traditional, lower-priced mass-market vehicle the company may sell in the near future.

Musk had been promising for years that he would sell a car whose starting price would be around $25,000, a promise that investors considered essential to attract new customers.

With information from AFP and Reuters.