Tesla wants to present its long-promised robotaxi on August 8. Company boss Elon Musk announced the presentation on his online platform X. No further details were initially revealed. The autonomous vehicle will be based on a new technical platform that will make production more efficient and cost-effective.
Musk has been promising for years that Teslas will drive autonomously – and that this will radically change the value of the cars and the business model. So far, the “autopilot” technology in Tesla’s electric cars is just a driver assistance system that requires control and intervention from a human behind the wheel. Following the announcement, Tesla shares rose nearly four percent in after-hours trading.
Unlike already active robotaxi providers such as Google’s sister company Waymo, Musk has always maintained that he wanted to use only cameras and forgo the more expensive laser radars that scan vehicles’ surroundings. This approach is controversial among experts.
In the past, accidents have occurred after “Autopilot” cameras were blinded by the sun as drivers relied too heavily on the technology. It is unclear whether Musk wants the robotaxis to continue to drive only with cameras.
Source: Krone
I’m Ben Stock, a journalist and author at Today Times Live. I specialize in economic news and have been working in the news industry for over five years. My experience spans from local journalism to international business reporting. In my career I’ve had the opportunity to interview some of the world’s leading economists and financial experts, giving me an insight into global trends that is unique among journalists.
