Topics
in vogue
AI
Amazon
Image Credits:Chris Carlson / AP
Apps
Biotech & Health
mood
Image Credits:Chris Carlson / AP
Cloud Computing
Commerce
Crypto
go-ahead
EVs
Fintech
Fundraising
contraption
Gaming
Government & Policy
Hardware
Layoffs
Media & Entertainment
Meta
Microsoft
Privacy
Robotics
surety
Social
Space
Startups
TikTok
transportation system
speculation
More from TechCrunch
Events
Startup Battlefield
StrictlyVC
Podcasts
Videos
Partner Content
TechCrunch Brand Studio
Crunchboard
Contact Us
Just hours afterElon Musk take Reuterswas “ lying ” about Tesla ’s plans to ditch its $ 25,000 low - toll EV and instead focalize all its movement on a robotaxi , the Tesla CEO annunciate on X that he would reveal said robotaxi in an event on August 8 .
The declaration comes as Tesla EVsales have laggedand profits have fallen , leaving the company and its chief executive officer on a hunting for another product to boost sales agreement — or at least the stock cost .
Earlier Friday , a Reuters written report citing three anonymous informant and intragroup text file say that Tesla was abandoning its programme to build a humiliated - monetary value EV and would instead focus resources on a planned robotaxi that is being work up on the same small EV platform that was also supposed to power the low - price fomite .
Musk took to X , the social connection he owns , and claimed without proof , that Reuters was “ lying . ” He did not dispute any specific point .
hour later , Musk post on X that a “ Tesla Robotaxi ” will be unveiled August 8 .
Tesla Robotaxi unveil on 8/8
— Elon Musk ( @elonmusk)April 5 , 2024
Join us at TechCrunch Sessions: AI
Exhibit at TechCrunch Sessions: AI
Reports have swirled for years that Tesla was work on these two vehicles . But Musk has wavered on whether to prioritize a typical railway car or one with no steering wheel or pedals , despite not having yet produced a fully sovereign car , fit in to descriptions in Walter Isaacson ’s biography of Musk .
The CEO pushed back in mid-2022 against his railroad engineer ’ insistence on cite a car with a guidance rack and pedals . And even as he pressed forwards , track designer Franz von Holzhausen and technology VP Lars Moravy keep the more traditional car reading alert as a “ fantasm labor , ” Isaacson pen at the time .
Musk has been promise autonomous capabilities in Tesla vehicles for years . In 2016 , he saidTesla would drive itself cross - state by the end of 2017(it did n’t go on ) . In 2019 , he promised to set up the troupe ’s first robotaxis as part of a broader vision for an autonomousride - sharing connection in 2020(that also did not materialize ) . A few years later , he sound out a consecrate robotaxi with no steering bicycle or pedal would come to marketby 2024 .
Tesla vehicles come standard with a driver - aid system post as Autopilot . For an additional $ 12,000 , owners can buy “ full self - drive , ” or FSD — a feature that CEOElon Muskhas promise for days will one day fork over full self-governing drive capability . Tesla vehiclesare not ego - driving . rather , FSD includes a number of automate driving features that still require the driver to be ready to take restraint at all times , including the parking feature film Summon , as well as Navigate on Autopilot , an active guidance system that sail a car from a main road on - ramp to off - wild leek , include interchanges and make lane changes . The system is also think to treat steering on urban center streets .
