Tesla introduces autonomous vehicles. The future of driverless transport?
Tesla presented autonomous vehicles, including the futuristic Cybercab. However, uncertainties around the timeline and technological challenges are prompting mixed reactions from investors.
Tesla, following Elon Musk’s announcements regarding autonomous cars, presented its latest achievement – Cybercab. It is a two-seater vehicle that has neither a steering wheel nor pedals, and its goal is to change the way people travel. The event took place on Thursday, when Musk personally appeared on stage, presenting a futuristic car that will go into production in 2026. The price of the new model is expected to be lower than $30,000.
Tesla presented new autonomous vehicles
Cybercab is equipped with gull-wing doors and relies solely on cameras and artificial intelligence, making it completely autonomous. Tesla expects trip costs to be just 20 cents per mile, and the vehicle will be powered by wireless chargers, eliminating the need to use traditional charging stations.
Musk also showed off other innovations, including Robovan, a larger autonomous vehicle that can carry up to 20 passengers, and the humanoid robot Optimus. All these new products have aroused considerable interest, especially among the brand’s fans, although analysts remain cautious.
Enthusiasm on social media for the event was evident long before the official show. Both speculation and invitations to the presentation aroused interest. However, investors and experts are not so optimistic about the news. They point out technological risks and uncertain time frames.
Musk also presented a vision of a future in which autonomous Tesla taxis will be accessible via an app and private owners will be able to share their vehicles with other users. However, not everyone is satisfied with the company’s actions so far. Dennis Dick, a trader with Triple D Trading, expressed his disappointment, noting that there is a lack of specifics regarding the timetable for the introduction of robot taxis to the market.
Problems and challenges
Promises regarding Tesla’s autonomous vehicles date back to 2019, when Musk announced that the company would have operational “robotaxis” in 2020. Unfortunately, these plans have not been implemented so far. This year, Tesla is focusing on the development of autonomous vehicles, putting aside plans to create a cheaper model that would increase demand for electric cars.
The company is facing a challenge due to a drop in deliveries, which may be the first of its kind in its history. Price reductions to compensate for rising interest rates led to falling profit margins. Tesla isn’t the only company facing difficulties in the autonomous vehicle market. Many other businesses are struggling with financial and legal problems, which has resulted in the closure of several of them. Nevertheless, some, such as General Motors with its Cruise project and Amazon with Zoox, are still trying to capture the market.
Unlike its competitors, which often use advanced equipment such as lidar, Tesla relies solely on cameras and artificial intelligence to reduce costs. However, the system still requires driver vigilance, which has raised concerns among regulators, especially after several fatal accidents involving the technology.