The Tesla brand, known for focusing on innovation, electric vehicles and autonomous driving technology, is due to unveil its latest creation, the Robotaxi, on 10th October. There is ongoing media speculation about whether the autonomous vehicle’s launch will go ahead this time, as it has already been postponed from 8th August.
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Little has been revealed so far about the latest driverless car Tesla has been developing since 2015, other than the need for further modifications, hence the delay. Putting back the planned launch by two months has led some industry experts to question whether the Robotaxi is more challenging than envisaged.
Analysts have suggested the race to produce viable autonomous vehicles will take years, as the technology must meet engineering challenges and satisfy regulatory hurdles.
History of Tesla
Founded in 2003 to speed up the world’s transition to sustainable energy, Tesla Motors’ first mission was to develop an electric sports car.
Multi-billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk invested heavily in the Texas-based company in 2004 and became chairman, later assuming the role of product architect and finally CEO. The 53-year-old was named as the world’s richest person on 6th September 2024, with a reported fortune of £191 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
The first Tesla electric car, the Roadster, made its debut in 2008. Further EVs followed, such as the Model S sedan in 2012 and the Model X SUV in 2015. The Model S was named as Motor Trend’s Ultimate Car of the Year and Consumer Reports’ Best Overall Car, while the Model X became the first SUV in history to earn five-star safety ratings in all National Highway Traffic Safety Administration tests.
Tesla motors became simply Tesla as the company branched out into other markets, including solar energy, high-speed trains, artificial intelligence research, space travel and the acquisition of social media giant Twitter in 2022.
Where are Tesla cars made?
Elon Musk’s Tesla has become the driving force in vehicle technology over the past two decades, with other automobile developers and manufacturers accepting this is the brand to beat.
The CEO has introduced the concept of Gigafactories, which are giant manufacturing centres that drive the economy wherever they are located. To date, Tesla has six Gigafactories including four in the United States in Fremont, California; Austin, Texas; Sparks, Nevada; and Buffalo, New York. The manufacturing plant in Texas alone measures ten million square feet.
There is also a Gigafactory in Berlin, Germany, which manufactures various products including Model Y vehicles, battery cells, vehicle seats and more. The sixth is based in Shanghai, China, where Model Y and Model 3 vehicles are manufactured. Tesla’s main export centre, it can produce more than 750,000 vehicles annually.
In 2023, Tesla announced its latest plans to build a new Gigafactory in Monterrey, Mexico, in the centre of an industrial hub.
Impact of Tesla on the automotive industry
Tesla has opened the doors for the mass adoption of EVs in the United States and ultimately all over the world. In March 2024, research revealed there were 200,000 Teslas on British roads, making up one in five of all UK electric vehicles. The brand’s success is partly due to its direct-to-consumer sales model, enabling motorists to purchase their cars without visiting a dealership – a significant factor in its growth.
There has been an incredible demand for Tesla cars globally, with the brand’s EVs setting the standard and challenging traditional petrol and diesel vehicles, helping to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels.
Tesla has also introduced its Autopilot technology, enabling vehicles to navigate roads and park themselves. This has led to the current development full self-driving capabilities, such as the Robotaxi. Also, they have advanced emergency braking and collision avoidance technology and installed a worldwide Supercharger infrastructure to provide highspeed EV charging stations.
Research has shown that Tesla’s stance as a sustainable manufacturer resonates with consumers, who are becoming increasingly environmentally aware.
What do we know about the Robotaxi?
The announcement of a new driverless taxi service coincided with a report by Reuters that Tesla had shelved plans to build a cheaper electric vehicle in the £19,000 range. Musk had reportedly told employees he wished to focus 100% on a new autonomous vehicle.
The Tesla Robotaxi is believed to be built on Tesla’s next-generation automobile platform. The idea was to produce autonomous Tesla taxis that could earn money for their owners by transporting customers, while the driver could be away doing something else.
In 2023, Musk teased the possibilities of the Robotaxi, showing a covered vehicle when the company revealed its latest Master Plan. Part of the Tesla Network, it would be possible for owners to add their vehicle to the Tesla shared fleet through a phone app. Musk told owners it could “generate income” for them while they were on holiday or at work, “potentially exceeding” the monthly lease or loan costs.
On 5th April 2024, Musk announced on his social media feed, “Tesla Robotaxi unveil on 8/8,” which racked up 48 million views. However, following news of the two month postponement, critics have argued Tesla has over inflated the technology’s current capabilities. They have suggested the brand is beginning to lose its lofty position as an innovation leader in autonomous vehicles.
Only time will tell whether Tesla is able to unveil its Robotaxi on 10th October as planned.
