How To Watch Tesla's Robotaxi Unveiling This Thursday

Tesla is set to host a noteworthy event in California this Thursday, and it is largely anticipated to center on its eagerly awaited robotaxi known as the “Cybercab.” The event, titled “We, robot,” was announced in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday.

The future will be streamed live

10/10, 7pm PT https://t.co/YJEjZIYoTA

— Tesla (@Tesla) October 9, 2024

There are high hopes that Tesla CEO Elon Musk will unveil a prototype of the much-anticipated robotaxi, though recent reports suggest that the presentation may only feature some visual renderings.

Given that Musk first introduced the concept of a robotaxi nearly eight years ago, displaying only renderings this Thursday would likely be seen as a letdown.

It would not be the first instance where Tesla has held a launch event for a product that wasn’t quite ready. For example, the initial live demonstration of Tesla’s Optimus humanoid robot became somewhat of a spectacle when the “robot” that walked onto the stage turned out to be an actor in a skin-tight suit. However, it’s important to note that Tesla engineers have been diligently working on the robot since then.

The robotaxi event has already experienced at least one delay. In April, Musk stated that an unveiling was planned for August, but by July, it was revealed that the event had been postponed to the fall.

Currently, Tesla offers vehicles equipped with autonomous driving features, but they still require a human to be behind the wheel. In contrast, the Cybercab is expected to be fully autonomous, eliminating the need for a steering wheel and pedals. According to Bloomberg, the vehicle will feature two front seats and two doors that open upwards, resembling “butterfly wings.”

Musk has also stated that Tesla’s robotaxi service would provide passengers with “the lowest cost-per-mile of transport that they’ve ever experienced,” even potentially costing “less than a bus ticket, a subsidized bus ticket, or a subsidized subway ticket.”

The visionary plans for the robotaxi involve owners using it when needed while allowing it to operate as an autonomous taxi for paying customers during other times.

This year, Tesla showcased the ridesharing functionality in its app, intended for use with the robotaxi service.

Before launching the robotaxi for fare-paying customers, Tesla must persuade regulators of its safety for public streets, which means a widespread robotaxi service may still be years away.

The path to implementing large-scale robotaxi services is fraught with challenges, as evidenced by the experiences of companies like Waymo and GM-backed Cruise.

Nonetheless, there is considerable interest in what Tesla plans to reveal regarding its robotaxi and how it aims to turn an autonomous ridesharing service into reality.

Musk has hinted that the presentation on Thursday will also feature “a few other surprises,” so viewers can expect some excitement.