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Tesla’s two-seater robotaxi – Cybercab – jeered by investors and analysts
- IBJ Bureau
- Oct 14, 2024
Tesla’s revelation of a robotaxi designed as a low-slung, two-seater, sporty coupe – quite the opposite of a typical taxi with room for several passengers and luggage – has flummoxed investors and analysts.
CEO Elon Musk served up the cool design for the prototype of the Tesla robotaxi, dubbed Cybercab, at a much-hyped event near Los Angeles late on Thursday. These will go into production some time in 2026 and cost less than $30,000 a pop, he said.
But in true Musk style, he skipped over expectations of how a two-seater robotaxi would serve the needs of families headed to a restaurant or to the airport, or if he expected these to appeal only to a niche clientele.
Investors jeered the design and the lack of financial detail, with Tesla stock tumbling by 9 per cent on Wall Street on Friday.
“When you think of a cab, you think of something that’s going to carry more than two people,” said Jonathan Elfalan, vehicle-testing director for the automotive website Edmunds.com. “Making this a two-seat-only car is very perplexing,” he added.
Tesla did not respond to an email seeking comment.
Experts have said that robotaxis would best emulate regular taxis with plenty of room, a tall design and sliding doors. Musk did showcase a futuristic robovan that could seat up to 20 people but did not say when that would be available.
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