TESLA UNVEILS CYBERCAB: The future of autonomous taxi fleets?
Tesla has finally pulled the curtain back on its long-promised robotaxi, revealing the Cybercab at a Hollywood event on Thursday night. However, eager buyers will need to be patient, with availability not expected until 2026 at the earliest.
CEO Elon Musk arrived at the Warner Bros. studio in one of the sleek, AI-powered vehicles. He highlighted a bold future for Tesla, presenting a car with no steering wheel or pedals, relying entirely on autonomous driving. According to Musk, the company’s advancements in self-driving technology have brought this vision closer than ever.
Tesla has been developing its “Full Self-Driving” software for nearly a decade. Musk expressed confidence that the company is on the verge of achieving fully unsupervised driving. He even suggested that future drivers might be able to fall asleep and wake up at their destinations, describing this leap as a “glorious future”.
The Cybercab, expected to cost less than £25,000, is aimed at the mass market. Musk hinted at a 2026 release, though he added it could be “before 2027”.
Tesla’s autonomous driving technology won’t be exclusive to the Cybercab. The company plans to introduce it to its popular Model 3 and Model Y vehicles in certain US states next year.
Alongside the Cybercab, Musk also revealed a new self-driving vehicle, called the ‘Cybervan’ capable of carrying up to 20 passengers, further showcasing Tesla’s ambition to expand its AI and robotics portfolio.
The unveiling marks another step in Musk’s long-standing goal to deploy a fleet of robotaxis. This vision promises to allow Tesla owners to earn income by renting out their cars for autonomous rides when not in personal use.
As Tesla pivots from its core electric vehicle business towards AI-driven innovations, the pressure is on to see if these ambitious timelines can be met and the impact it has on the taxi and private hire industry.
