Tesla has revealed a new opportunity for its shareholders. The company announced that those who hold Tesla shares can now enter a lottery to attend the upcoming robotaxi event on October 10 in Los Angeles. The lottery results will be announced in the week starting on September 23.
The event, which was previously confirmed by Tesla’s head of Investor Relations, Travis Axelrod, will provide a look into the company’s latest development in autonomous driving technology.
As with previous events, Tesla has implemented a lottery system to select the shareholders who will be able to attend. To participate, shareholders must ensure their status is verified on Tesla’s investor relations webpage and submit their applications by September 17.
However, this process has historically faced challenges due to some brokerages not allowing verification of shareholder status, leading to complaints from those who are unable to participate.
Tesla, however, is expected to be less concerned about this issue compared to previous instances, such as when shareholders needed to vote on reinstating Elon Musk’s compensation package. For those who cannot verify their shareholder status, Tesla requires them to submit their July 2024 statement to confirm their ownership.
The upcoming robotaxi event has generated significant excitement among Tesla enthusiasts and investors, as it marks a significant shift in the company’s strategy. Following the cancellation of plans for the next gen compact EV, Elon Musk announced in April that Tesla would launch its robotaxi on August 8.
However, he later retracted this statement and remained silent about the robotaxi plans during the first quarter earnings call. The October 10 event, which appears to be confirmed by Elon Musk, will shed light on Tesla’s progress in this groundbreaking technology.
A recent Bloomberg report ignited anticipation among tech enthusiasts as it claimed that Tesla had secured Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank, California, for October 10. This strongly suggested that the highly anticipated robotaxi revealing would indeed take place on that date.
The strategic choice of venue, with its simulated suburban neighborhood environment, hinted at Tesla’s intention to offer demo rides, providing a tangible look into the future of autonomous transportation. While the company hasn’t officially confirmed the location, Los Angeles seems to be the most probable setting for this groundbreaking event.
Speculation surrounding the event has been rife, with rumors suggesting a wide range of potential showcases. The studio premises, ideal for demonstrating the robotaxi’s capabilities in a realistic setting, also hinted at the possibility of revealing the robotaxi prototypes for the first time.
Furthermore, there were whispers that Tesla might surprise attendees with other innovative projects they’ve been working on in recent years, such as integrating Optimus robots into the robotaxi experience. However, there was also a risk of disappointment if the company chose to reveal nothing extraordinary.
Recent patent filings and persistent rumors have indicated that Tesla might be ready to showcase a wireless charging solution. This technology, crucial for a fully autonomous robotaxi, would enable the vehicle to charge without human intervention.
Tesla has been working on wireless charging since at least 2023 when it teased a wireless charging mat during an Investor Day presentation. The successful development of such a solution would be a significant step toward realizing the vision of a truly autonomous transportation network.
