Musk’s Vision for The Future?
Owen Smith
If you thought Tesla’s new Cybertruck looked funky on the road – think again. Electric car company Tesla unveiled multiple new vehicles last month in a livestreamed presentation dubbed “We, Robot.” The new vehicles revealed included the new Cybercab (also known as the Robotaxi) and Robovan.
The Cybercab lacks a steering wheel, coming fully equipped with Tesla’s new FSD (Full-Self-Driving) technology. However, that’s not the only thing missing from the vehicle. The Cybercab does not have pedals, or even a charger plug in (Musk clarified that the vehicles would charge wirelessly). Musk claimed that FSD would begin testing in current Tesla cars in California and Texas in 2025.
While the Cybercab was expected to be revealed that night, the new Robovan was not. The Robovan looks like the most futuristic vehicle ever made. The van can hold up to twenty people says Musk, “…if you want to take a sports team somewhere, or you’re looking to really get the cost of travel down to, I don’t know, 5-10, cents a mile, then you can use the Robovan.” The wheels are not visible, and the van is easily defined by the curvature and bright neon strips making it stand out.
The Robovan and Cybercab are both intended for Telsa’s new “Tesla Network,” which aims to be the next generation ride-hailing service for FSD vehicles. It will allow Tesla owners to theoretically share their car with friends and family and offer rides to strangers. In Musk’s vision for the future, he projects how parking lots can now be turned into parks and nature centers, since his Tesla Network won’t rely on any parked cars.
Of course, that’s not all Tesla had in store for the event. Additionally, Tesla revealed their new “Tesla Bot” or “Optimus Bot” (The event was called We, Robot anyway, what did you expect?). These bots will help complete daily activities if you’re willing to pay the whopping $30,000+ price tag! Attendees at the event also claim that the robots were obviously being controlled by staff.
While many were left amazed by the “We, Robot” event, Musk’s vision has left more questions than answers. Is modern transportation infrastructure ready for the introduction of FSD? How will Tesla execute their Network? Are you ready to see a Robovan in your rearview mirror? And who is buying a Tesla Bot?
All questions won’t be answered until Elon Musk’s ambitious future someday (maybe) becomes a reality.
