Tesla presents "Cybercab": A visionary glimpse into the future of autonomous transport

Elon Musk unveiled Tesla's latest innovation, the "Cybercab," at a highly anticipated event for investors. However, while outlining the vision of an affordable autonomous vehicle, essential details remained unclear. He predicted that these self-driving vehicles could be available for under $30,000 and introduced the idea that "the cost of autonomous transportation will be so low that it could be considered individualized mass transit." During the presentation in Los Angeles, Musk sat in a Cybercab without steering wheels and pedals. He emphasized that production of the so-called "robotaxis" is expected to begin before 2027, although regulatory approval will be required. Additionally, he presented a prototype for an autonomous vehicle capable of transporting up to 20 people, the "Robovan." Since the announcement of a "Robotaxi Day" on April 5, Tesla's shares have risen an impressive 45 percent—a clear indication that investors have high expectations for the announcements. Musk has consistently set ambitious goals, envisioning that robotaxis could increase Tesla's company value to as much as $5 trillion—about seven times its current market value. However, Musk has repeatedly missed his own targets in the past, having promised self-driving trips from Los Angeles to New York by the end of 2017 and predicted in 2019 that there would be a million robotaxis on the road by the following year. At the event on Thursday, he announced that unaccompanied autonomous rides could be available as early as next year in Texas and California.