$30,000 Without Steering Wheel or Pedals: Introducing the Tesla Robotaxi

Elon Musk promised us that the future of mobility would be unveiled this Thursday, October 10. Here is at least the vision according to Tesla.

First of all, it needs to be clarified whether we are talking about a Robotaxi or a Cybercab, as both terms have been used to describe the vehicle presented in the Warner Bros studios by Elon Musk in impeccable astronaut attire and Franz von Holzhausen, the head of design at Tesla. On the Tesla Media site, they refer to it as a Robotaxi, so let’s stick to that term.

As expected, the vehicle is a strict two-seater with gullwing doors, without a steering wheel or pedals. Sorry, but for the technical specifications, we will have to wait a bit because these are the only precise details we take away from this conference. The lines are much more conventional than expected and closely resemble those of the yellow prototype seen a few weeks ago. It’s a blend of Model 3 and Cybertruck, quite elegant but without true originality. It features the matrix headlights integrated into a light strip debuted on the Cybertruck, which could provide a clue about the brand’s next stylistic direction. We’ll see if this design is adopted for the revamped Model Y Juniper expected in early 2025. It’s worth noting that there is no rear window and that the hatch opens up to a gigantic cargo space.

Much more original, the Robotaxi has no charging port. It will be the first Tesla vehicle to come equipped as standard with wireless inductive charging. This technology is mature but has never really taken off. However, it is perfectly suited for autonomous vehicles, as it allows them to recharge without human intervention.

Musk mentioned an operating cost of 12 cents per kilometer, which seems really ambitious. This vehicle is meant to be part of the autonomous ridesharing fleet, Tesla Network, which Musk has been promoting for years, but it will also be available for purchase by individuals at a price of $30,000. Considering that Tesla can charge up to $15,000 for the Full Self-Driving feature, one can assume that the technical specifications of the vehicle will not be astounding. This makes sense since a taxi is not designed for long, high-speed trips.

We will now have to wait until 2026 to see these Cybercabs or Robotaxis, or both in action. Well, 2026… even Elon Musk acknowledges that it is difficult to stick to a deployment schedule for autonomous vehicles, so let’s go with 2027.

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