elon musk unveils tesla robotaxi, the long-awaited self driving car, at we, robot event

Elon musk finally reveals prototype model of tesla robotaxi

Elon Musk unveils Tesla’s Robotaxi, a so-called fully autonomous car that passengers can hail as on-demand transport. A fleet of Tesla Robotaxi prototypes rolled in during the We, Robot event in Los Angeles on October 10th, 2024. Soon after, personnel are seen to exit the vehicles as the cars form a line.

The full details about the features within and around the ‘self-driving’ taxi are still unknown, but Elon Musk says that Tesla plans to begin production of the Robotaxi over the next ‘two years’ and the release around 2026. If that happens, passengers are able to book a self-driving Tesla car using a dedicated app.

all images courtesy of Tesla, via X

Autonomous cars with gull-wing doors and ‘metallic’ look

Looking at Tesla’s car prototype, one of the first features of the Robotaxi is its gull-wing doors, which passengers raise to enter and exit the self-driving vehicle. Design-wise, the exterior looks uniform with a metallic, gold-like shade. It’s almost dual-tone, with this shade covering most of the vehicle and black accents on parts of the autonomous car.

The wheels can also steal the limelight. Unlike typical tires with spokes, the ones on the Tesla Robotaxi have solid round plates with a carved circular dip in the center, resembling a giant speaker. At the front, the headlight appears as a single thin line, still emitting luminous intensity. Looking at the frame of the Tesla Robotaxi, it seems to combine elements from the company’s other models and the Cybertruck.

the exterior of the Tesla Robotaxi looks uniform with a metallic, gold-like shade

No steering wheel in the cabin, just a display on the dashboard

The frame rises smoothly from the back, reaching its peak in the middle, providing ample headspace for the driver and passengers, before dipping and flattening toward the front. Because of this, the hood’s design seems independent of the rest of the autonomous car’s frame. In the images Tesla released of the Robotaxi, there is no steering wheel inside the cabin, as the vehicle is fully self-driving.

The glossy seats are boxy and resemble a puffer jacket, while the headrests are similar to those found in medical or dentist chairs. A single display screen is placed on the dashboard, likely for driving information and possibly for passenger infotainment. There’s a single armrest between the two passengers, and because of the sloped-down front part of the Robotaxi, Tesla passengers may have ample legroom. So far, Elon Musk has shared that the release of the Tesla Robotaxi may begin in 2026 with a starting price of less than 30,000 USD.

the tires on the Tesla Robotaxi have solid round plates with a carved circular dip in the center