New Delhi. Tesla CEO Elon Musk has finally launched the company’s first robotaxi after a long wait. This robotaxi, which runs entirely on battery, has been named Cybercab. The company launched it at an event at Warner Bros. Studio in Los Angeles. Musk announced that production of the Cybercab will begin in 2026 and it will be priced under $30,000 (approximately ₹25 lakh).
Tesla fans were eagerly waiting for this event, because the event was already running late. Nearly 3.3 million viewers participated in the livestream on social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter).
How is CyberCab?
The CyberCab electric taxi has a seating capacity of only two people and has neither pedals nor steering, making it a fully automated vehicle. Both its doors open upwards like the wings of a butterfly.
More safe than ordinary cars
During the launch, Musk said that autonomous vehicles could be 10 to 20 times safer than human-driven vehicles, and would also be much cheaper. He estimated that the cost of operating a self-driving car would be about $0.20 per mile, compared to $1 per mile for city buses.
Why is Tesla making Cybercab?
Automation has been a key tenet of Elon Musk’s strategy. Musk has long been promising to bring fully automated, driverless cars to the market. Through CyberCab, Tesla wants to take this vision a step further, through which this taxi service will be offered through its own ride-hailing app. Musk has been talking about a ride-hailing business since 2019, but there has been little progress so far.
According to a report by TechCrunch, Musk is also planning to allow Tesla users to rent their vehicles through ride-hailing apps, in which the company will take about 25-30% commission.
Tags: Auto News, Tesla car
FIRST PUBLISHED : October 11, 2024, 1:12 PM IST