Back in April of 2019 at Tesla’s Autonomy Investor Day, Elon Musk announced that his EV brand would soon be introducing a network of robotaxis, with the aim of getting a million of these self-driving cabs on roads within a year or so — and introducing models with no steering wheels or pedals within two year’s time. In typical Tesla fashion, despite Musk being “very confident” that these plans would soon come to fruition, that’s not how things played out, and the rollout of this network and vehicle range would take quite a bit longer than expected.
And now, after years of development delays, Tesla has finally pulled the cover off of its all-new Robotaxi Cybercab autonomous vehicle.
Aesthetically, the Cybercab combines visual cues from the Cybertruck — such as its boxy, truncated tail, full-length LED strip headlight, aero cover-equipped wheels, and roofline slope — with the design language of Tesla’s normal vehicle lineup (i.e the Model 3, Model Y, Model S, etc).
In lieu of a traditional NACS port, Tesla has bestowed the Cybercab with a state-of-the-art inductive charging system that allows the vehicle to receive a wireless inductive charge — a detail that also suggests Tesla’s intention of investing heavily into inductive charging tech.
The Cybercab features a modern interior that’s devoid of a steering wheel or pedals. Boasting seating for two, the cabin also features a set of winged doors that automatically close once the vehicle’s seatbelts are buckled. In typical Tesla fashion, the dash sports an oversized 21-inch central touchscreen display. Behind the passenger compartment is a spacious trunk — though its storage volume is one of the many details that Tesla has yet to reveal.
In addition to its new Robotaxi, Tesla is also working on creating the long-ago-promised autonomous taxi network which would allow Tesla owners to rent out their rides as autonomous cabs when they’re at work, sleeping, or just not using their personal Tesla.
Though Tesla will soon get the Cybercab on public roads, there are also rumors swirling that the EV maker may also release a version of the new two-seater that comes with a traditional steering wheel and pedal-set. This car would likely become Tesla’s most affordable model, superseding the roughly-$40,000 Model 3.
The Cybercab broke cover last night at Tesla’s highly-publicized “We, Robot” event. Aiming to provide a sneak peek at what the marque believes is the future of autonomous tech, this event also saw the brand unveil an autonomous group transport and industrial delivery vehicle dubbed the Robovan. The Robovan sports a futuristic design with a low ride height and an overall aesthetic that takes ample inspiration from Art Deco trains while still being unmistakably modern. The event was also used as a platform to unveil the latest version of the vehicle and technology brand’s Tesla Bot robotic humanoid.
Before it can be brought to market, Tesla must first perform extensive real-world road tests for the new autonomous model’s Unsupervised Full Self Driving — trials slated to kick off next year in California and Texas.
Class: Fully-Autonomous Vehicle/Taxi
Brand: Tesla
Model: Robotaxi Cybercab
Powertrain: TBD
Seats: 2
Full Self Driving: Yes
Expected Starting Price:
Expected Production Date: 2026
Slated to be in full production by 2026, the Tesla Robotaxi Cybercab is expected to be priced at under the $30,000 mark. What’s more, the vehicle will be available for purchase, allowing buyers to enjoy being autonomously ferried around town when they need to get somewhere, and rent out the thing via a forthcoming taxi network when not using it.
After first being announced in 2019, Tesla has finally introduced the world to its fully-autonomous Robotaxi Cybercab which is expected to enter production by 2026 and cost under $30,000.
