Elon Musk’s recent “We, Robot” event marked Tesla’s first major product unveiling since the Cybertruck reveal in 2019. Hosted at Warner Bros. studio in Burbank, California, the invitation-only showcase introduced two new autonomous concepts: the Cybercab and the Robovan. However, despite the excitement, the event also underscored Tesla’s long history of missed deadlines and ambitious promises in the realm of self-driving technology.
Musk arrived on stage nearly an hour late, riding in a prototype Cybercab, a sleek, silver two-seater that notably lacks a steering wheel or pedals. This was the latest in a series of Tesla demonstrations promising a future where fully autonomous vehicles are common. While Musk announced that Tesla hopes to start selling the Cybercab for under $30,000 by 2027, he did not specify production details or timelines—a familiar pattern from previous launches. He also mentioned that Tesla plans to implement “unsupervised Full Self-Driving (FSD)” in Texas and California next year for the Model 3 and Model Y, despite FSD still requiring human supervision today.
The Robovan, another concept unveiled at the event, is designed for transporting up to 20 passengers or cargo, featuring inductive charging to eliminate the need for plugging in. While the vehicle could theoretically address high-density transport needs, Musk’s pitch lacked clarity on manufacturing plans or a definitive production timeline.
Tesla’s history with self-driving technology has been marked by repeated delays and unfulfilled promises. Musk’s predictions from as far back as 2015, where he claimed Tesla would achieve full autonomy within three years, have yet to come to fruition. Bold forecasts, like a cross-country autonomous drive by 2017 or 1 million robo taxi-ready cars by 2020, have similarly fallen short. Yet, Musk continues to champion autonomy as Tesla’s future, urging skeptics to reconsider their investments if they doubt the company’s progress in this area.
The event also featured a glimpse of Tesla’s humanoid robot, Optimus, with a playful demonstration that involved the robots dancing to music and serving drinks. While entertaining, this segment highlighted another ambitious area where Tesla has yet to deliver on its early promises.
Ultimately, while the “We, Robot” event showcased exciting concepts, the absence of concrete production details and the history of missed deadlines cast doubt on Tesla’s ability to meet its new targets. Musk’s focus on a “glorious future” contrasts sharply with the company’s track record, suggesting that consumers and investors should temper their expectations for these futuristic products.
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Elon Musk hypes $30,000 Tesla self-driving Cybercab and larger Robovan at robotaxi event published in CNBC