The first spy photos of Tesla's upcoming Robotaxi have emerged, showing a heavily camouflaged vehicle.The photos were taken near Tesla's design studio in Hawthorne, California.The vehicle appears to have a low, sleek profile with a rounded front end and a tapered rear.It seems to be smaller than Tesla's current passenger cars, possibly similar in size to a compact hatchback.The camouflage makes it difficult to discern specific design details, but the overall shape is visible.
The Robotaxi is expected to be a purpose-built autonomous vehicle without traditional controls like a steering wheel or pedals.Tesla CEO Elon Musk has previously stated that the Robotaxi will be optimized for autonomy and low-cost transportation.
In order to ensure the safety of its passengers, the Robotaxi will likely use an enhanced version of Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) system, which has already demonstrated significantly lower crash rates compared to human drivers on highways.
Tesla has collected billions of miles of driving data from its existing fleet, which helps train and improve its autonomous driving capabilities.Critical components like steering, braking, and power systems will likely have redundancies to ensure safety even if one system fails. Also a team of remote operators may monitor the vehicles and provide assistance if needed, similar to other robotaxi services. Tesla regularly improves its software through updates, allowing for rapid deployment of safety enhancements. Tesla vehicles are also known for their strong crash protection, which will likely carry over to the Robotaxi.
While specific details of the Robotaxi's safety systems haven't been fully revealed, Tesla's approach will likely combine advanced autonomous technology with multiple layers of safety redundancies and human oversight to ensure passenger protection.The vehicle is set to be officially unveiled on October 10, 2024, at an event in Los Angeles.These spy shots provide the first real-world glimpse of the vehicle ahead of its official reveal.
The Robotaxi is a crucial part of Tesla's future plans, with Musk claiming it could dramatically increase the company's value.