Elytra doors, two seats, sunken lines. But, above all, without a steering wheel or pedals. The Cybercab meets all the requirements of a futuristic car. Barely a month after its presentation in Los Angeles, during a specific event, this robotaxi signed by Tesla, which aims to be 100% autonomous, is on display this week in Paris, in its showroom near the Place de la Madeleine.
Without steering wheel or pedals
This vehicle should be used for a 100% autonomous robotaxi fleet. As with a VTC service, customers will be able to request it through an application. The vehicle will come to pick them up and then they can open it using their phone. Elon Musk even wants to promote autonomy in vehicle maintenance, carried out by robots, and in recharging, by induction. It is no longer necessary for a human to connect the cable.
The objective is obviously to limit prices. Elon Musk promises a price less than a bus ticket and a car at the attractive price of $30,000.
What business model for robotaxis?
According to a sector specialist, the real unknown remains the economic model of a robotaxi service. Actual price of the trip, specific duration of the journey, it is difficult to get an idea of the real cost of this type of service. Waymo, Cruise (General Motors) and Zoox (Amazon) are currently testing this type of commercial service in the United States.
Beyond comical situations with vehicles going in the opposite direction or stopping in the middle of an intersection, the economic reality of this type of service is still not certain.
“This service will find an audience if it is cheaper,” summarizes a specialist.
Tesla has been promising 100% autonomous vehicles for some time, whether in its fleet of vehicles on the road or now through a potential fleet of robotaxis. Tesla, however, did not give details about the vehicle’s autonomy and especially about the specific robotaxi service: internally at Tesla or under an Uber brand, as today for cruise vehicles?
For this reason, analysts were disappointed after the Cybercab fair in October. It must also be remembered that although Elon Musk has promised a 100% autonomous driving system since 2019, this has not yet become widespread in vehicles.
Tesla promises the arrival of the Cybercab in 2026 in the United States. Europe is also one of the markets targeted by the electric car manufacturer.
Source: BFM TV
