The idea of a car driving itself while riders relax has been the stuff for sci-fi movies. Tesla, however, has made driverless driving a reality with the Robotaxi Cybertaxi that will revolutionize cab hailing.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk will soon disrupt the taxi business as he unveils the Robotaxi Cybercab at a live-streamed event in Los Angeles. The completely autonomous car is powered by the company’s Unsupervised Full Self Driving (FSD) and will be sold for less than $30,000.
The new Cybercab takes inspiration from multiple cars from the American company’s lineup. However, the most prominent design cues are from the electric Cybertruck, even though the brutal lines and angles have been toned down.
Tesla has slapped aero covers on the Cybercab’s wheels, giving it a more futuristic look. However, these additions should help increase the car’s efficiency and extend the driving range.
The inside of the cab can only be described as spacious, even though it is designed to seat only two riders at a time. While that may sound hostile to family trips, Musk has claimed most of the taxi rides in the US involve only one or two riders.
However, you will first notice the absence of a steering wheel, which is the whole point of autonomous transport. A 21-inch touchscreen display stands in the center of the dashboard, reminiscent of the interiors of Model 3 and Model Y. Other components include two cup holders.
Multiple renders of the Cybercab show it will have a spacious trunk and might be able to transport more cargo than the Model 3. However, another thing missing is the charging port. While other EV makers continue to adopt Tesla’s NACS charging protocol, the Cybercab will be charged wirelessly. The car will charge by simply parking over a wireless induction charger, which the company has been developing in-house.
The Cybercab has two gullwing doors for ingress and egress.
According to Musk, the Cybercab will be the company’s cheapest car ever, selling below $30,000. This should be a good proposition for companies or taxi fleets globally.
However, reports have suggested that Tesla will make a variant of the Cybercab with steering and pedals, which could be sold globally.
The Cybercab will likely be assembled at Giga Texas, where Tesla will use its modular ‘unboxed’ process.
Tesla has set a production date of 2026 for the Cybercab. However, the company boss has only said it would be produced before 2027, and given Musk’s notorious optimism with targets, it would be best to adjust expectations. Besides, Tesla has regulatory approvals, real-world tests, and other hurdles to jump first.
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Header image courtesy of Teslarati
