Elon Musk Unveils 'Cybercab' Robotaxi

Facts

• Elon Musk unveiled Tesla's robotaxi, the Cybercab, at the Warner Bros Studios in Burbank, California on Thursday evening.^[1]
• At the "We, Robot" event, Musk said that Tesla will start producing the gull-wing door-fitted self-driving cab — priced at less than $30K — in 2026.^[2]
• Musk didn't provide details about where the Cybercab, which has two wing-like doors and no pedals or steering wheels, will be produced or whether it has the required regulatory approvals.^[1][3]
• He claimed that the robotaxi is artificial intelligence-based, charges wirelessly, would be 10-30 times safer than human-driven cars, and cost as little as $0.20 per mile.^[2][4][5]
• Musk said Model 3 and Model Y may go "fully autonomous" in California and Texas in 2025. They currently need a human diver at the wheel, ready to take over at all times.^[3][6]
• Tesla shares have surged 45% since it declared a "robotaxi day" on April 5. However, the shares fell in early trading on Friday.^[7]

Sources: ^[1]Reuters, ^[2]The Japan Times, ^[3]CNBC, ^[4]Verge, ^[5]Yahoo Finance, ^[6]BBC News and ^[7]Financial Times.

Narratives

• Narrative A, as provided by The Verge. Tesla's robotaxi announcement is a game-changer for the transportation industry. With millions of Tesla vehicles on the road, the company has a massive advantage in data collection and real-world testing. The potential for Tesla owners to earn passive income by adding their cars to the robotaxi fleet could revolutionize car ownership and ride-hailing services.
• Narrative B, as provided by NPR Online News and Forbes. Tesla's robotaxi plans are overly ambitious and potentially dangerous. The company's track record of missed deadlines and exaggerated claims about its self-driving technology raises serious concerns. Without Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) and other advanced sensors, Tesla's camera-only approach may not be sufficient to ensure passenger safety in all driving conditions.