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Tesla’s robotaxi will be used as a service similar to Uber and Airbnb, according to the electric car company’s chief executive, Elon Musk.
The robotaxiwhich hasn’t been seen because Tesla has yet to release images, is expected to begin volume production in 2024.
Mr. Musk described him as a autonomous vehicle without steering wheel or pedals.
Speaking at Tesla’s annual shareholder meeting, he said the new model would give owners the option to lease their vehicles based on how often they needed to use it.
“There are parking lots full of cars everywhere because the cars need a driver and so most of the time they don’t do anything,” he said.
“Typically, a passenger car will have 12 hours of use per week. If it’s self-driving, it could possibly reach 50 or 60 hours of use.
“The interesting thing is that the car still costs the same price. So in this scenario, at least for a while, the gross margin of a self-driving car is mind-boggling,” he said.
Having a self-driving vehicle will allow owners to also benefit from using it when they don’t need it, Musk said.
“In terms of car operation, you would have the ability to own a car and use it occasionally when you need it – Auto-Uber or something, and then the car owner could decide they want to. use the car or add or subtract it from the fleet. This would end up being a combination of Airbnb and Uberor something like that,” he said.
Tesla’s comprehensive self-driving program is currently in beta. Over 100,000 drivers in North America have access to the system, which keeps the driver alert and ready to take control.
The system caught the attention of regulators after several crashes would have taken place on autopilot.
Since 2016, the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has dispatched teams to 39 crashes in which autonomous driving systems were suspected of being used, according to agency documents.
Of those, 30 involved Teslas, including crashes that left 19 people dead.
Mr Musk said the proposed robotaxi service would not be tied to a specific city or location.
“Some states and cities will provide regulatory approvals faster than others. We are aiming for a blanket solution,” he said.
“If you created a randomly generated alternate Earth, our system would still work.”
Mr. Musk has said in the past that he sees the robotaxi as a potentially massive growth engine for Tesla, and the goal is for it to achieve the lowest cost per mile.
The Tesla Cybertruck is also expected to go into production next year, but will be more expensive than initially expected due to inflationary pressures.
Updated: August 15, 2022, 06:35
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