Elon Musk on Thursday unveiled what he described as a robotaxi, a self-driving vehicle he expects to be available by 2027—almost a decade after he initially promised an autonomous car.
The Tesla CEO said the fully electric vehicle, which lacks a steering wheel and pedals, would cost under $30,000 and feature wireless charging through inductive technology. Musk claimed the robotaxi would be “10 to 20 times safer” than cars driven by humans.
“You can think of the car in an autonomous world as being like a little lounge,” Musk told an audience at Warner Brothers Studio near Los Angeles. “You’re just sitting comfortably, doing whatever you want, and when you get out, you’ll be at your destination.”
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The robotaxi, featuring gullwing doors similar to the DeLorean from the “Back to the Future” films, was described with minimal detail.
Musk noted Tesla already had 50 prototypes and planned to begin “fully autonomous, unsupervised” driving tests in Texas and California next year, with full production expected before 2027.
Musk also showcased the “Robovan,” a large, driverless vehicle with no steering wheel or pedals, capable of seating up to 20 people or being used for cargo transport. However, no timeline or production details were provided.
Additionally, Musk presented humanoid robots called Optimus, designed to perform menial tasks and offer companionship. He projected that these robots would eventually retail for $20,000 to $30,000, but he did not provide a timeline for their release.
While Musk’s ambitious visions have helped establish Tesla as one of the world’s most valuable companies, some critics remained skeptical. Many noted that Musk has repeatedly promised autonomous cars since 2016, but fully self-driving technology has proven difficult for automakers.
Public reaction to the robotaxi reveal was mixed, with some praising Tesla’s potential and others expressing doubt, calling Musk’s claims “delusional” after years of similar unfulfilled promises.
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