Tesla is set to unveil its long-promised robotaxi in Hollywood late on Thursday and update investors on artificial intelligence projects, efforts CEO Elon Musk has bet will drive the electric vehicle maker’s long-term growth.
Enthusiasm around the event has been on display across social media, with screenshots of invites and speculation on what might be disclosed. But investors and analysts have flagged challenges with the technology and reined in expectations.
Musk’s plan is to operate a fleet of self-driving Tesla taxis called Cybercabs that passengers can hail through an app. Individual Tesla owners will also be able to make money on the app by listing their vehicles as robotaxis.
Thursday’s event at the Warner Bros studio near Los Angeles, California, is titled “We, Robot” – an apparent nod to the “I, Robot” science-fiction short stories by American writer Isaac Asimov, but also echoes Musk’s insistence that Tesla “should be thought of as an AI robotics company” rather than an automaker.
Those attending will include investors, stock analysts and Tesla fans. Topping their list of questions will be how quickly can Tesla ramp up robotaxi production, at what cost, and, crucially, how much money it can make from the taxi business.
Eyes will also be on progress the company has made with the partial automation software it markets as Full Self-Driving that company watchers expect to underpin its robotaxis.
Musk could also give details on cheaper versions of Tesla’s current EVs as well as updates on its humanoid robot Optimus.
MISSED PROMISES
Musk said in 2019 he was “very confident” the company would have operational robotaxis by the next year. After missed promises, Musk this year diverted his focus to developing the vehicles after scrapping plans to build a smaller, cheaper car widely seen as essential to countering slowing EV demand.
Tesla is at risk of posting its first-ever
