NEWS
Just In: Elon Musk Unveils Autonomous Tesla Cybercab, Robovan…. See More
The Cybercab and Robovan use AI instead of Lidar and lack steering wheels and pedals, promising a futuristic experience on the road.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk finally unveiled two autonomous electric vehicles Thursday night during a livestream dubbed “We, Robot,” featuring a smaller “Cybercab” and a larger “Robovan” at the Warner Bros. studio lot in Burbank, California.
“There’s no steering wheel or pedals, so I hope this goes well,” Musk said during the event.
The Cybercab is a smaller coupe with two butterfly doors, two seats, a single band of headlight similar to the Cybertruck, and a stainless-steel look. It doesn’t have a charging port, either, as it’s able to charge via induction. Tesla hopes to start production before 2027, and says the Cybercabs will cost less than $30,000 per vehicle
The Robovan is an autonomous van with hidden wheels that can seat up to 20 people. Tesla renderings envision the Robovan as a solution for camping, or operating as a school bus or a sleek ride to a wedding. As one Redditor points out, it looks a bit like a transport van from the 2004 sci-fi film “I, Robot.”
Neither the Cybercab or the Robotaxi use Lidar like competitors Waymo or Cruise. Tesla’s autonomous vehicles don’t have steering wheels or pedals, either—which could make them a regulatory challenge.
Musk claims the Cybercab will, eventually, only cost about 20 cents a mile, while operating the robovans will cost about five cents per mile.