Tesla robotaxi unveil: Musk says ‘Cybercab’ has no steering wheels or pedals
Tesla, the electric vehicle manufacturing giant owned by Elon Musk, unveiled its highly anticipated robotaxi, called Cybercab, at the “We, Robot” event held in California, United States, on Friday.
The event’s name, “We, Robot,” is an apparent reference to Isaac Asimov’s science-fiction short story collection “I, Robot.” It also reflects Musk’s insistence that Tesla “should be thought of as an AI robotics company” rather than an automaker.
The robotaxi is a purpose-built autonomous vehicle, lacking steering wheel or pedals, which means it will need approval from regulators before going into production. “Cybercab has no steering wheels or pedals,” Musk said while speaking at the event.
Musk said in April 2019, that he expected Tesla robotaxis to be fully operating by 2020. However, following unfulfilled promises, Elon Musk has shifted his attention to vehicle development as the company has abandoned its intentions to manufacture a more compact and affordable automobile, which many industry experts considered crucial for addressing the slowing demand for electric vehicles.