The dedicated robotaxi will be highly optimized for autonomy, meaning it would not have a steering wheel or pedals, Musk said
Tesla plans to bring a dedicated robotaxi with no steering wheel or pedals to market by 2024, CEO Elon Musk said Wednesday during Tesla’s first quarter 2022 earnings call.
That’s just two years to develop, test, verify, produce at volume and commercially launch a robotaxi service that meets regulatory rules that vary from state to state. In California, Tesla’s largest market for passenger vehicle sales, it will mean navigating the permitting process of two agencies.
Musk struck a bullish tone despite the numerous challenges.
The dedicated robotaxi will be highly optimized for autonomy, meaning it would not have a steering wheel or pedals, Musk said, adding that there are a number of other innovations around it that he thinks are quite exciting.
I think it can be very powerful product where we aspire to reach volume production in 2024, Musk said later adding, I think (the robotaxi) really will be a massive driver of Tesla’s growth.
Earlier this month at Tesla’s Austin gigafactory opening, Musk outlined a variety of future products that are a departure from its passenger car business, which generates the bulk of its profits today. Those products included mention of a robotaxi and Optimus, Tesla’s humanoid robot concept.
Tesla’s robotaxi pursuit puts it in competition with companies that have been developing autonomous vehicle technology for robotaxis for years, including the Alphabet unit Waymo, Argo AI, Aurora, GM’s self-driving subsidiary Cruise, Motional and Zoox.
It also calls into question whether Tesla intends to scrap its current strategy to full autonomy or if this will be developed in parallel.
Musk has been hinting at robotaxis for years, but not through a standalone product like the one he described Wednesday. Instead, he has repeatedly promised to turn the Tesla vehicles that people own today into their own robotaxi via an upgraded advanced driving assistance system called Full Self-Driving software that currently costs $12,000.
During the call, Tesla acknowledged that its vehicles are largely inaccessible for many people given their high cost and sees the introduction of robotaxis as a way of providing customers with ‘by far the lowest cost-per-mile of transport that they’ve ever experienced,’ said Musk.
Look at some of our projections, it would appear that a robotaxi ride will cost less than a bus ticket, a subsidized bus ticket or a subsidized subway ticket,’ Musk continued.