Elon Musk Reveals Robotaxi Plans, Promises Launch Before 2027

Photo : EPA

Elon Musk unveiled Tesla's long-promised self-driving robotaxi on Thursday, predicting it would hit the market by 2027. The Tesla CEO introduced the fully autonomous electric vehicle, designed without a steering wheel or pedals, and priced under $30,000. He claimed the vehicle would be "10 to 20 times safer" than those driven by humans and would be wirelessly charged using inductive technology. 

"You can think of the car in an autonomous world as being like just a little lounge," Musk said at the event held at Warner Brothers Studio near Los Angeles. "You're just sitting in a comfortable little lounge, and you can do whatever you want while you're in this comfortable little lounge, and when you get out, you will be at your destination."

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Though few technical details were shared, the car’s futuristic design features gullwing doors, reminiscent of the DeLorean from the "Back to the Future" films. Musk mentioned Tesla already had 50 of these vehicles and expects to begin testing "fully autonomous, unsupervised" driving with existing models in Texas and California as early as next year. Full production of the robotaxi, which he dubbed the "cybercab," would follow, with Musk cautiously predicting availability "before 2027."

In addition to the robotaxi, Musk also revealed a large autonomous passenger vehicle called "The Robovan." Resembling a large toaster on wheels, the Robovan has no driver controls and can accommodate up to 20 passengers or be configured to transport goods. Musk, however, provided no timeline or production details for the Robovan.

Another highlight of the evening was the introduction of the Optimus robot, a humanoid machine that Musk claims will one day perform menial tasks and offer companionship. Musk described the robot as potentially "the biggest product ever of any kind" and estimated it would eventually retail for $20,000 to $30,000. Although the robot was shown walking among the audience and handing out plaques, Musk offered no specifics on its capabilities or production timeline.

The event had an enthusiastic, futuristic tone, but as is typical with Musk’s presentations, it raised more questions than answers about timelines and feasibility. While Tesla has long promised fully autonomous cars, the reality of self-driving technology has proven to be much more complicated. Musk first mentioned the idea of a robotaxi in 2016, predicting then that a fully automated vehicle would be available within two years. In 2019, he claimed a self-driving car capable of transporting sleeping passengers would be on the market soon.

Despite these bold promises, fully autonomous driving remains an elusive goal for Tesla and the wider automotive industry. While cars today offer limited automation, they still require a human driver to be attentive and intervene when needed, particularly in unexpected situations. Competitors like Google’s Waymo and General Motors’ Cruise have already launched pilot robotaxi programs, though these remain tightly regulated and limited in scope.

Tesla’s latest unveiling will also face significant regulatory scrutiny and public skepticism, as many people are unfamiliar with the concept of cars without human drivers. Responses to Musk’s presentation were divided, with some expressing excitement about the future potential of Tesla’s robotaxi, while others were more cynical. One critic referred to it as "delusional nonsense from a liar who has been promising a robotaxi every year for a decade."

Despite the mixed reactions, the unveiling of Tesla’s latest technological ambitions marks another bold step in the company's efforts to lead the future of autonomous transportation, though it remains to be seen if Musk's ambitious timelines will be met.