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The concept of an autonomous taxi service has been part of Tesla’s vision for at least eight years. Recently, Musk has prioritised this project over developing a cheaper electric vehicle than the current most affordable Model 3 sedan read more
 "Tesla to delay robotaxi launch, build more prototypes ahead of launch")
Originally, Tesla CEO Elon Musk had set the reveal for August 8. However, the EV maker is now planning to push the launch by a couple of months. Image Credit: AFP
Tesla Inc. has decided to delay the unveiling of its highly anticipated robotaxi project to October. This move gives the teams involved more time to develop additional vehicle prototypes, according to sources familiar with the matter.
Originally, Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk had set the reveal for August 8. The excitement around this event had significantly boosted Tesla’s market capitalization, contributing to an 11-day streak of gains that added over $257 billion to the company’s value.
However, the stock saw a more than 8 per cent drop in intraday trading on Thursday following the news of the delay, first reported by Bloomberg News.
The delay was communicated internally, according to sources who wished to remain anonymous as the information had not been officially announced.
The concept of an autonomous taxi service has been part of Tesla’s vision for at least eight years. It dates back to when Musk outlined a second iteration of his “master plan” for the company. Recently, Musk has prioritized this project over developing a cheaper electric vehicle than the current most affordable Model 3 sedan.
For over a decade, Musk has been promoting Tesla’s work on autonomous-vehicle technology, encouraging customers to invest in the company’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) package. Despite its name, FSD still requires constant driver supervision and does not make Tesla vehicles fully autonomous. Nevertheless, Musk and his top engineers have been increasingly optimistic about FSD’s potential, especially as the company’s vehicle sales have slowed.
Tesla’s robotaxi project represents a significant step towards the future of autonomous transportation. By pushing back the unveiling, Tesla aims to ensure the technology and prototypes are more refined and ready for a successful launch.
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English (US) ·