Elon Musk denied the accuracy of a report from Reuters early Friday that claimed Tesla was scrapping plans to supply a low-cost electrical automobile in favor of a robotaxi. However the billionaire simply introduced on X that he’ll be unveiling a brand new robotaxi on August 8, elevating apparent questions on whether or not Reuters actually did get something incorrect.
Did Elon Musk Remorse Shopping for Twitter? | Walter Isaacson Interview
“Tesla Robotaxi unveil on 8/8,” Musk tweeted at 4:49 p.m. ET, after market shut, with out elaborating on any particulars.
Musk regularly tries to divert consideration from any potential failures with massive splashy bulletins. And this isn’t the primary time Musk has promised that robotaxis are simply over the horizon. Again in 2020, the Tesla CEO stated it was all as much as regulators.
“Performance nonetheless trying good for this yr. Regulatory approval is the large unknown,” Musk tweeted in April 2020 about Tesla robotaxis.
The report from Reuters earlier on Friday clearly rankled Musk, who insisted that the information outlet didn’t have its information proper. However the Reuters story cites quite a few nameless sources, who stated the pivot away from a $25,000 automobile to a totally autonomous taxi service could be troublesome.
The stark reversal comes as Tesla faces fierce competitors globally from Chinese language electric-vehicle makers flooding the market with vehicles priced as low as $10,000. The plan for driverless robotaxis, which might take longer to ship, presents a stiffer engineering problem and extra regulatory danger.
Two sources stated they realized of Tesla’s resolution to scrap the Mannequin 2 in a assembly attended by scores of workers, with considered one of them saying the gathering occurred in late February.
“Elon’s directive is to go all in on robotaxi,” that individual stated.
The third supply confirmed the cancellation and stated new plans name for robotaxis to be produced, however in a lot decrease volumes than had been projected for the Mannequin 2.
Who is aware of what is going to truly occur on Aug. 8, however it’s totally doable Musk might current some shiny expertise that may blow our minds. We’re simply hoping it’s not some poor human dressed like a robotaxi, like in the summertime of 2021 when Musk unveiled his robotic. Despite the fact that Tesla’s Optimus is definitely an actual robotic now, it’s just about smoke and mirrors in comparison with each robotics competitor.
Amazingly, we’re presupposed to be simply two years away from utopia in the event you believed the specialists of the 2010s. Morgan Stanley promised self-driving vehicles would ship a utopian society by 2026 all the best way again in 2014. Solely time will inform, after all, however we’re not going to carry our breath for an ideal world simply but. We’re simply crossing our fingers we keep out of World Conflict III, given the rumblings popping out of Iran proper now.
