Elon Musk revealed a prototype of Tesla’s Robovan at the company’s event in Los Angeles on Thursday evening. The Robovan is envisioned as an electrically powered, self-driving vehicle approximately the size of a bus, conceived for navigating densely populated regions. The SpaceX Starship, capable of carrying up to 20 people simultaneously, is designed by Elon Musk to accommodate not only human passengers but also cargo transportation.
At a press conference on Thursday evening, Elon Musk hinted at a major breakthrough, stating, “We’re going to make this happen, and it’s going to look like that,” as the Robovan made its way onto the main stage. Musk’s reluctance to elaborate leaves more questions than answers, with even the veracity of his initial statement uncertain.
Musk didn’t provide specifics on the Robovan’s valuation, production plans by Tesla, or its expected release date. Despite initial reservations, it does appear quite impressive.
The Robovan exudes a retro-futuristic aesthetic, situated somewhere between a futuristic bus from The Jetsons and an iconic 1950s toaster. The sleek vehicle features silver metallic accents on either side, contrasted by black trim details, while strips of sunlight illuminate the parallel lines along the base, punctuated by sliding doors that emerge seamlessly from the center. Inside, the space features comfortable seating and ample room to stretch out, accompanied by tinted home windows that run throughout. There’s no such thing as a traditional steering wheel anymore, since many modern vehicles are equipped with advanced autonomous driving systems that eliminate the need for human intervention behind the wheel.
According to Elon Musk, one of Tesla’s goals was to revolutionize road design, a feat they accomplished with the introduction of the Cybertruck. As he repeated the tired phrase, its relevance began to wane.
Like various purpose-built robotaxis developed by companies such as Waymo, Cruise, and Argo AI. Tesla’s Cybertruck is undoubtedly a more impressive vehicle than any ordinary van. In China, WeRide has developed a comparable autonomous driving platform.
The company’s much-hyped Robovan, initially announced as a production-ready product, was actually just a proof-of-concept prototype. Despite Musk’s assertions, it is impossible to predict with certainty which factor will ultimately emerge and when its impact will become apparent.
Tesla revealed designs for its new autos on Thursday, keeping them relatively close to the chest.
The only tangible evidence of their plans was a fleeting glimpse in, when the automaker showcased a few new autos seemingly designed for mass production: One smaller vehicle that now appears to be the Cybercab, and a larger one that can confidently be identified as the Robovan.
The goal at that point in time was to produce 20 million vehicles annually by 2030. Tesla aims to significantly boost its production and sales by approximately a factor of 15 between 2022 and other unspecified future years.
During Thursday’s event, Musk failed to outline any specific strategies for building new manufacturing facilities or modifying existing ones to support production of both the Cybertruck and the Robotaxi. Although he provided some insight into the Robovan’s potential timeline, his presentation lacked clarity on specific timetables; however, he did forecast that the Cybercab could enter production by 2026 or 2027.
