Elon Musk denied the accuracy of the message from Reuters on Friday morning, which claimed that Tesla was abandoning plans to provide a low-cost electrical car in favor of robotaxis. However the billionaire simply introduced on X that he’ll unveil a brand new robotaxi on August 8, elevating apparent questions on whether or not Reuters really did something flawed.
“Tesla Robotaxi launches on August eighth,” Musk tweeted at 4:49 pm ET after the market closed, with out elaborating.
Musk typically tries to distract consideration from potential failures with large bombshells. And this is not the primary time Musk has promised that robotaxis are simply across the nook. Again in 2020, Tesla’s CEO stated it was all as much as regulators.
“The performance nonetheless appears good for this 12 months. Regulatory approval is a giant unknown,” Musk tweeted. April 2020 about Tesla robotaxi.
The Reuters report, printed earlier on Friday, clearly angered Musk, who insisted the information outlet was not getting the details proper. However the Reuters article cites a number of nameless sources who say the transition from a $25,000 automobile to a totally autonomous taxi service will likely be tough.
From Reuters:
The sharp turnaround comes as Tesla faces stiff competitors world wide from Chinese language electrical car makers flooding the market with automobiles priced as little as $10,000. The self-driving robotaxi plan, which can take longer to implement, poses a extra complicated engineering problem and larger regulatory threat.
Two sources stated they realized of Tesla’s resolution to scrap the Mannequin 2 in a gathering attended by a number of staff, with one saying the assembly came about in late February.
“Elon’s directive is to focus solely on robotaxis,” the individual stated.
A 3rd supply confirmed the cancellation and stated the brand new plans name for robotaxi manufacturing, however in a lot smaller volumes than deliberate for the Mannequin 2.
Who is aware of what’s going to really occur on August eighth, but it surely’s attainable that Musk may unveil some sensible know-how that can blow our minds. We simply hope it isn’t some poor individual dressed like a robotaxi like in the summertime of 2021 when Musk offered his robotic. Although Optimus Tesla is now really an actual robotic, it is just about smoke and mirrors in comparison with each competitor within the robotics discipline.
Amazingly, based on the consultants of the 2010s, we’re solely two years away from utopia. Morgan Stanley promised that self-driving automobiles will convey advantages utopian society by 2026 again in 2014. In fact, solely time will inform, however we’re not going to carry our breath for the right world simply but. We’re simply crossing our fingers that we do not find yourself in World Warfare III, given the rumblings exit from Iran proper now.