Elon Musk Says Tesla Robotaxi Will Be Unveiled Aug. 8 Regardless of Historical past of Damaged Guarantees

Elon Musk denied the accuracy of a report from Reuters early Friday that claimed Tesla was scrapping plans to supply a low-cost electrical automobile in favor of a robotaxi. However the billionaire simply introduced on X that he’ll be unveiling a brand new robotaxi on August 8, elevating apparent questions on whether or not Reuters actually did get something unsuitable.

“Tesla Robotaxi unveil on 8/8,” Musk tweeted at 4:49 p.m. ET, after market shut, with out elaborating on any particulars.

Musk incessantly tries to divert consideration from any potential failures with large splashy bulletins. And this isn’t the primary time Musk has promised that robotaxis are simply over the horizon. Again in 2020, the Tesla CEO stated it was all as much as regulators.

“Performance nonetheless wanting good for this 12 months. Regulatory approval is the massive unknown,” Musk tweeted in April 2020 about Tesla robotaxis.

The report from Reuters earlier on Friday clearly rankled Musk, who insisted that the information outlet didn’t have its details proper. However the Reuters story cites quite a few nameless sources, who stated the pivot away from a $25,000 automobile to a totally autonomous taxi service could be troublesome.

From Reuters:

The stark reversal comes as Tesla faces fierce competitors globally from Chinese language electric-vehicle makers flooding the market with automobiles priced as low as $10,000. The plan for driverless robotaxis, which may take longer to ship, presents a stiffer engineering problem and extra regulatory danger.

Two sources stated they realized of Tesla’s choice to scrap the Mannequin 2 in a assembly attended by scores of staff, with certainly one of them saying the gathering occurred in late February.

“Elon’s directive is to go all in on robotaxi,” that individual stated.

The third supply confirmed the cancellation and stated new plans name for robotaxis to be produced, however in a lot decrease volumes than had been projected for the Mannequin 2.

Who is aware of what’s going to truly occur on Aug. 8, but it surely’s totally potential Musk may current some shiny expertise that may blow our minds. We’re simply hoping it’s not some poor human dressed like a robotaxi, like in the summertime of 2021 when Musk unveiled his robot. Regardless that Tesla’s Optimus is definitely an actual robotic now, it’s just about smoke and mirrors in comparison with each robotics competitor.

Amazingly, we’re alleged to be simply two years away from utopia for those who believed the specialists of the 2010s. Morgan Stanley promised self-driving automobiles would ship a utopian society by 2026 all the best way again in 2014. Solely time will inform, in fact, however we’re not going to carry our breath for an ideal world simply but. We’re simply crossing our fingers we keep out of World Warfare III, given the rumblings coming out of Iran proper now.