Tesla has unveiled a self-driving bus and a self-driving taxi. The vehicles are named Robovan and Cybercab. Both innovations were introduced by Elon Musk at the "We, Robot" event, reports The Verge.
Visually, the Robovan resembles a subway car or a minibus on an airport runway. It can transport up to 20 people or cargo, and the wheels are hardly visible.
“Robovan is what will solve the issue of high density. So if you want to take a sports team somewhere or really reduce the cost of a trip to, I don't know, 5–10 cents per mile, then you can use Robovan,” — Elon Musk.
The Cybercab — a robotaxi — has no steering wheel or pedals. The doors open upwards, and there is space for only two passengers in the cabin. There is also no charging port — the electric vehicle will charge wirelessly using electromagnetic induction.
According to Musk, self-driving cars will be 10 to 20 times safer than human-driven vehicles. Additionally, the cost of a trip will drop to 20 cents per mile (compared to 1 dollar per mile on a city bus).
Production of the Cybercab is set to begin in 2026 or 2027. The company will need to obtain permission from the relevant regulators to launch self-driving vehicles on public roads.