Tesla is set to reveal a robotaxi this evening at a special event titled “We, Robot,” taking place at Warner Brothers studio in Burbank, California. CEO Elon Musk is expected to showcase a vehicle designed exclusively for autonomous passenger transport, although the company’s semi-autonomous software has yet to demonstrate full self-driving capabilities.
The event will be streamed live, and Musk continues to assert that robotaxis are central to Tesla’s future profitability. While the company generates significant revenue through electric vehicle sales, Musk believes the software sector offers even greater profit potential. Tesla currently offers the “Full Self Driving (Supervised)” package, but it still requires human intervention at times.
Musk has made ambitious predictions about the arrival of robotaxis, dating back several years, but he has faced criticism for his overly optimistic timelines. While other companies, including Waymo and Cruise, have introduced driverless taxi services, they still face challenges in achieving profitability and reliability. Despite the successes of these competitors, Tesla’s approach to autonomy relies solely on cameras for data collection, differing from others that utilize a combination of sensors.
Regulatory approval poses another hurdle, as there are currently no federal laws governing self-driving vehicles in the U.S., leading to a patchwork of local regulations. Musk has acknowledged that the acceptance of a robotaxi fleet hinges on regulatory confidence in safety.
Additionally, tonight’s event may feature Optimus, Tesla’s humanoid robot still in development, which Musk believes could surpass Tesla’s other products in long-term value. Analysts will be closely watching to see if Tesla can deliver a compelling demonstration, as expectations for the reveal are high.