Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla Inc., showcased the highly anticipated Cybercab, an autonomous robotaxi, during an event in Burbank, California, late Thursday.
The electric vehicle, being called as the ‘robotaxi’ by Tesla, is expected to cost under $30,000, with production set to begin by 2026, according to Musk.
The grand unveiling
Musk arrived on stage in one of the two-door Cybercab prototypes, making a dramatic entrance at the Warner Bros. Discovery Inc. movie studio lot.
Alongside the Cybercab, Musk also introduced a futuristic Robovan concept, designed to carry up to 20 people at a time.
Robovan details
Although Tesla has a history of missing ambitious deadlines, Musk remains optimistic about the future of the Cybercab.
The event itself had been delayed by two months after Musk ordered changes to the prototype, as reported by Bloomberg in July.
Elon Musk’s optimistic timelines for Tesla
During the presentation, a member of the audience asked when the Cybercab would be available for purchase.
Musk responded with his characteristic blend of ambition and caution.
“Probably, well I tend to be a little optimistic on timeframes, but in 2026,” he said.
Before 2027, let me put it that way.
While the presentation offered a glimpse of Tesla’s future with the Cybercab, it lacked details about the technological advancements needed to achieve full autonomy in the vehicle.
Robotaxi details
Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) suite remains a work in progress, and Musk did not provide specifics on how Tesla plans to advance this system to the point where driver supervision is no longer necessary.
He did mention that Tesla aims to offer this capability to Model 3 and Model Y owners in Texas and California next year.
Investor reactions and lack of technical details
Nancy Tengler, CEO of Laffer Tengler Investments and a Tesla investor who attended the event, commented on the lack of specifics in Musk’s presentation.
“The only specific was the $30,000 for a Cybercab,” Tengler said, as quoted by Bloomberg.
The concepts were all grand. Is the idea super cool? Absolutely.
Tesla’s delayed start, Musk’s big promises
The event itself got underway almost an hour behind schedule, which Musk later addressed on X, his social media platform, explaining that a medical emergency involving a person in the crowd had caused the delay.
Despite the late start and lack of technical details, the presentation captivated attendees with its bold vision for the future of transportation.
Tesla now faces the challenge of meeting its ambitious timelines, with production of a sub-$30,000 autonomous Cybercab slated to begin in 2026.
Whether Musk can deliver on this promise remains to be seen, but the unveiling has already sparked considerable interest in the future of affordable autonomous vehicles.
The post Tesla unveils Cybercab under $30K: can Elon Musk meet the 2026 deadline? appeared first on Invezz