At the We, Robot event, Musk showcased a robotaxi with gullwing doors, taking it for a brief drive around a Hollywood studio. He reiterated that autonomous transport costs would eventually be as low as “individualized mass transit,” with the Cybercab operating at roughly $0.20 per mile. Musk also announced that the Cybercab will cost under $30,000 and expects it to enter production by 2026 or “before 2027.”
Robovan and Optimus
Musk revealed plans to launch unsupervised FSD (Full Self-Driving) in Texas and California next year with the Model 3 and Model Y, though he admitted to being overly optimistic about timelines. Event attendees cheered as they were allowed to test 20 fully autonomous Cybercabs onsite.
The Cybercab features inductive charging, a wireless solution instead of a plug. Tesla also surprised the audience with the unveiling of a Robovan, an autonomous bus capable of carrying 20 people or goods, but no production timeline was given. Additionally, a group of Optimus humanoid robots performed for the crowd, showing off their ability to dance, serve drinks, and interact with guests. Musk envisions these robots as future helpers, priced between $20,000 and $30,000.
Robotaxi history and context
Tesla delayed the original Robotaxi reveal due to design changes. The Cybercab is part of Tesla’s broader push for autonomy, with a vision to create a ride-hail service where Tesla owners can share their cars, allowing Tesla to take a cut of the revenue. Despite previous ambitious claims of fully autonomous robotaxis by 2020, Tesla’s Full Self-Driving software still requires human oversight, and regulatory hurdles remain—especially with the Cybercab’s lack of steering wheels or pedals, which challenges federal safety laws.
