Tesla is pushing back the unveiling of its robotaxi by a couple of months, according to a Bloomberg report. Originally, Elon Musk had announced three months ago that the robotaxi would be revealed at a special event on August 8. However, sources say that the event has now been delayed to October to allow engineers more time to perfect the prototype.
The technology behind Tesla’s robotaxi is expected to incorporate multiple cameras that provide a 360-degree view of the surroundings, along with ultrasonic sensors and front-facing radar. Musk has described the self-driving taxi as having a “futuristic” design without a steering wheel or pedals. He also claimed that passengers would experience the lowest cost-per-mile of transport they’ve ever encountered, potentially even cheaper than public transit fares.
Launching an autonomous taxi service has been one of Musk’s long-term goals. He first introduced the idea about eight years ago and has recently focused on this project over developing a more affordable electric car than the Model 3.
However, this isn’t the first time Tesla’s robotaxi project has faced delays. In 2019, Musk announced that Tesla would deploy autonomous robotaxis by 2020, and two years ago, he stated that mass production would begin this year, which clearly hasn’t happened.
What Tesla has accomplished is offering a preview of the robotaxi’s ridesharing feature within its app. Screenshots show features similar to standard ridesharing apps, including a map indicating the vehicle’s route to the pickup location. Riders will also have the option to adjust the interior temperature before the vehicle arrives.
Ultimately, regulators will determine when and where Tesla can launch its robotaxi service. Competitors like Waymo and Cruise have encountered significant challenges in setting up limited ridesharing services in a few states. Uber abandoned its plans for a similar autonomous service in 2020, following a fatal incident involving one of its cars in Arizona.