Tesla ‘Cybercab’ heralds “glorious future” says Musk

A golden opportunity for small business owners is how Tesla CEO Elon Musk is pitching the all-new Tesla Cybercab autonomous robotaxi, following the compact car’s unveiling today during a live streamed launch event.

The gilded robotaxi has no conventional car controls such as accelerator or brake pedals or even a steering wheel. When the tyres hit North American tarmac in 2026, the Cybercab will revolutionise ride-sharing and taxi services, says Tesla.

That’s because the small two-seat robotaxi will be available to all and sundry for less than US$30,000 (A$45,000), making it the most affordable Tesla electric vehicle to date.

Using a specialised Tesla app – not Uber, Lyft or Didi – small business owners are being encouraged to buy several vehicles, sending their fleets of autonomous taxi cabs out into the world, then offering affordable fares due to the fact they are driverless, which significantly reduces running costs.

“It's going to be a glorious future,” exclaimed the Tesla CEO during the high-tech self-driving car’s global reveal, which was live-streamed in one of Elon Musk’s trademark launches.

“I think there will be an interesting business model where somebody is an Uber or Lyft driver today, where they can manage a fleet of cars – 10, 20 cars – and just take care of them, like a shepherd tends to their flock,” said Musk, one of the world’s richest humans.

The Cybercab vehicle is a small two-seat car with two gull-wing doors that can be charged wirelessly via induction. It features a stainless steel exterior like the Cybertruck and has a large cargo area with plenty of space for luggage.

A single touchscreen display inside the Cybercab allows passengers some control over systems, such as the climate and audio. Video calls will also be on the menu for the two passengers.

Perhaps the most controversial element of the new Cybercab will be its driverless operation, made possible by a cutting-edge version of Tesla’s FSD (full self-driving) tech, whose software has been trained by countless Tesla owners across the world.

Tesla insists the latest FSD software needs no human supervision, whereas current versions installed in Tesla Model 3 sedans and Tesla Model Y SUVs necessitate a driver.

The Tesla Cybercab will “probably” enter production by 2026 says Musk but ‘unsupervised’ FSD will be made available from 2025 for the Tesla Model 3 and Tesla Model Y electric vehicles – but only in Texas and California initially, according to the Tesla boss.

Musk reckons that as the FSD tech evolves and is deployed in robotaxis when they hit the streets, it will be “10 times safer than a human”.

The US-based EV innovator intends to build the Cybercab in very high volumes, anticipating high demand.

It will be based on Tesla’s next-gen vehicle platform that is claimed to use new manufacturing techniques that could reduce manufacturing costs by 50 per cent compared to the current Tesla Model 3.

It’s not yet clear when or if the Tesla Cybercab will be imported to Australia or whether it will even be road-legal here.

Australian road regulations currently don’t allow for the use or sale of fully autonomous vehicles but legislation that will kick off the process to eventually allow driverless vehicles on Aussie roads is understood to be in the works – albeit at an embryonic stage.

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