Tesla robotaxi to be unveiled on August 8: Elon Musk

Following the billionaire's Friday announcement, the EV manufacturer's shares rose by more than 3% in after-market trades.

Published on: Apr 6, 2024, 09:24:36 IST

By HT News Desk, New Delhi

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

Tesla will reveal its long-awaited robotaxi on August 8, CEO Elon Musk announced on Friday.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk waves as he leaves the Tesla Gigafactory for electric cars after a visit in Gruenheide near Berlin, Germany, Wednesday, March 13, 2024. ((AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)

“Tesla Robotaxi unveil on August 8,” Musk posted on his social media platform X (formerly Twitter) without sharing details about the project.

Following the billionaire's announcement, shares of his Austin, Texas-based electric vehicle manufacturer, rose by more than 3% in after-market trades.

Tesla's Robotaxi

In April 2019, Tesla had said that it expected robotaxis to begin operating by 2020, and predicted that these autonomous vehicles would last 11 years and drive 1 million (10 lakh) miles, bringing a profit of $30,000 (approx. ₹25,00,000) each year.

Musk has said in the past that Tesla will make a car that humans can operate without control. The South African-born entrepreneur has also previously declared that company models equipped with Full Self-Driving (FSD) capability will, through software updates, gradually become “better and better at driving.”

“Models with FSD will be superhuman to such a degree that it will seem strange in the future that humans drove cars, even while exhausted and drunk!” he noted in a post on X, in March.

He has also stated that the owners of FSD-equipped Tesla vehicles will be able to have their cars serve as a robotaxi.

Currently, the Full Self-Driving capability is available with the new Tesla Model 3. For this, however, customers will have to pay $12,000 (approx. ₹10 lakh) in addition to Model 3's roughly $40,000 (approx. ₹33,00,000) purchase price. Alternatively, the FSD can be purchased on a subscription basis at $199 (approx. ₹16,600) per month.

(With agency inputs)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

Unlock a world of Benefits with HT! From insightful newsletters to real-time news alerts and a personalized news feed – it's all here, just a click away! -Login Now!