Cybercab production to start in 2026; to be priced under 30,000
Operating cost to be 20 cents per mile over time
Musk also showcased robovan, Optimus humanoid robot

Oct 10 Reuters Tesla CEO Elon Musk showcased on Thursday a longawaited robotaxi with two gullwing doors and no steering wheel or pedals and surprised with robovan, betting on a shift in focus from lowpriced massmarket cars to robotic vehicles.

At a glitzy unveiling, Musk reached the stage in a Cybercab to be produced from 2026 eventually in high volume and priced under 30,000. He then introduced the robovan which can carry up to 20 people though offered few further details.

But Musk, who has a record of missing projections and himself said he tended to be optimistic with time frames did not say how quickly Tesla could ramp up robotaxi production, clear inevitable regulatory hurdles or implement a business plan to leapfrog robotaxi rivals such as Alphabet39;s Waymo.

Analysts and industry experts said establishing robotaxis could take years, particularly due to ensuring safety and reliability. They pointed to accidents as well as the difficulty the technology has responding to scenarios such as inclement weather, complex intersections and pedestrian behavior.

But Musk, wearing a leatherjacket and addressing crowds at the Warner Bros studio near Los Angeles, said autonomous cars could be 10 times safer than humans and drive five to 10 times longer.

The autonomous future is here, Musk said. With…