Musk: Tesla will start producing “robotaxi” in 2024.
Tesla boss Elon Musk is back with another bold statement.
Speaking at a meeting on Tesla’s first-quarter earnings on Wednesday night, Musk said Tesla would begin mass production of a “robot taxi” by 2024.
This vehicle, he said, will not be equipped with steering wheel or pedals and will instead be driven on its own using Tesla’s Full Self-Driving software, which is still in beta testing.
Musk said the purpose of the robotics is to achieve the lowest cost per mile for a taxi-like vehicle, and stated that Tesla projects that a ride on its robotics will cost less than a subsidized public bus or subway fare.
Musk did not comment on whether the robotics would go on sale to the public or be hired by Tesla for a dedicated transportation service.