USA – On Thursday night, Elon Musk introduced a prototype of Tesla’s Robovan at the company’s We, Robot event in Los Angeles. This electric, self-driving vehicle is designed to be approximately the size of a bus and will be used for transporting people in densely populated areas. It can accommodate up to 20 passengers and also carry goods, as stated by Musk.
“We’re going to make this, and it’s going to look like that,” Musk said as the Robovan made its way to the center stage. However, he didn’t provide much additional information, leaving some uncertainty about the details.
Musk did not disclose the price of the Robovan, the production process, or its release date, but it certainly has an appealing design.
The Robovan boasts a retro-futuristic design, reminiscent of a vehicle from The Jetsons combined with a 1950s toaster. It has silver metallic sides accented with black details and features light strips running horizontally along its sides, with doors that slide open from the center. The interior includes seating and standing space, along with tinted windows throughout. As it is autonomous, there is no steering wheel.
“One of our goals – similar to what we achieved with the Cybertruck – is to transform the appearance of our roads,” Musk stated. “The future should embody a futuristic aesthetic,” he reiterated, echoing a familiar sentiment.
The design of Tesla’s new van resembles other specialized robotaxis, such as those created by Zoox and Cruise, but it is significantly larger. In China, a similar vehicle called the Robobus has been developed by WeRide.
However, the Robovan showcased on Thursday is merely a prototype, and despite Musk’s comments, its final form and release date remain uncertain.
Tesla has kept the details of the vehicles revealed on Thursday largely under wraps, with the only clue coming from Tesla’s 2023 Investor Day, where they hinted at new models intended for mass production: a smaller vehicle that is likely the Cybercab and a larger one that is probably the Robovan.
The company’s goal is to manufacture 20 million vehicles annually by 2030, which would require a roughly 15-fold increase in production and sales compared to 2022.
During the event, Musk did not discuss plans for new production facilities or modifications to existing ones for the Cybercab or Robovan, nor did he provide specific timelines for the Robovan, although he did mention that production for the Cybercab is expected to begin in 2026 or 2027.
Musk also unveiled his remarkable Optimus robots, designed to be our trusty sidekicks for everyday chores like mowing the lawn and picking up groceries. During the showcase, these humanoid machines entertained the crowd with a lively dance and even served refreshments.
Musk revealed that these futuristic helpers will be priced between $28,000 and $30,000, with plans to hit the market in 2026.
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— Tesla (@Tesla) October 9, 2024
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