Tesla’s latest “We, Robot” event certainly had its highlights, with Franz von Holzhausen showcasing sleek new designs that prove he hasn’t lost his touch. However, for those expecting answers on how Tesla plans to incorporate artificial intelligence into autonomous driving or launch a robotaxi service on par with Uber or Lyft, the event left much to be desired.
Although Elon Musk did make a 20-minute appearance on stage at the Warner Bros. backlot in Burbank, California, the event was notably lacking in substance. Musk introduced the much-anticipated Robotaxi, or Cybercab, which boasts a Cybertruck-inspired design.
Another surprise was the reveal of the Robovan, an Art Deco-style vehicle designed to transport up to 20 people. Tesla also teased the Cybercab’s inductive charging feature, eliminating the need for a charging port altogether.
But while these designs and innovations grabbed attention, there was a conspicuous absence of concrete information. How will the inductive charging work? How fast will it be? What platforms will these vehicles use, and how will Tesla achieve autonomous driving that’s “10, 20, 30 times safer than a human driver” without advanced sensors like LIDAR? These vital questions were left unanswered.
Instead, the event featured Musk narrating a promotional video and showcasing closed-course demo rides, which might have been impressive a few years ago but pales in comparison to what competitors like Waymo are currently offering. Waymo’s robotaxi service in San Francisco can do far more than Tesla’s current demo, raising doubts about how close Tesla is to delivering fully autonomous driving.
Many, including Barron’s and Edmunds, echoed similar sentiments. The event was supposed to address Tesla’s long-standing promises around autonomy, yet it offered little in terms of technical details or safety measures.
While Tesla mentioned plans to start limited robotaxi services by 2025, experts agree that the leap from where we are now to full autonomy is a massive technological hurdle. Moreover, public buy-in and regulatory approval will be critical, making Musk’s ambitious timeline seem overly optimistic.
The event had an upbeat atmosphere, with Tesla fans and Optimus robots serving drinks, while Musk spoke about an “age of abundance” where anyone could have any product or service they desired. However, this optimism clashed with Musk’s recent public persona, especially since his acquisition of Twitter, now X, which has been criticized for amplifying misinformation and fostering harmful rhetoric.
The event seemed less about showcasing a future reality and more about keeping Tesla’s stock afloat. While Musk continues to assure us that the future is just around the corner, the lack of concrete progress suggests it might remain a distant promise.
