Tesla has postponed the launch of its Robotaxi by around two months to October. This decision was made because the design team needs to revise some elements of the vehicle. This news led to a drop in the Tesla-share price by more than eight percent, which now stands at 241.03 US dollars.
Original plans and current changes
Elon Musk had originally announced that the Robotaxi would be unveiled on August 8, 2024. This followed reports in April that Tesla abandoned his plans for a low-cost car and instead pushed ahead with the development of self-driving robotaxis. These robotaxis are to be based on the same platform as small cars.
Expert opinions and challenges
Analysts and industry experts agree that the development of autonomous driving systems and robotaxis is a difficult task that could take years. Bryant Walker Smith, professor of autonomous vehicle law, expressed doubts about Tesla's ability to implement a significant automated driving system.
Craig Irwin, senior research analyst at Roth MKM, believes that the unveiling event may be disappointing and that the technology is not yet mature enough to fully automate driving.
Investor reactions
Despite the delay, some investors were less concerned. Jamie Meyers, senior analyst at Laffer Tengler Investments, explained that two months of delay doesn't make much of a difference and that it's positive that Tesla that the product is being developed properly.
New focus on AI and robotics
Elon Musk has emphasized that Tesla is focusing on artificial intelligence, autonomous driving software, robotaxis and the humanoid robot Optimus to compensate for the decline in electric vehicle sales. These sales still account for over 80 percent of the quarterly revenue of Tesla quarterly turnover.
In April 2024, Musk spoke of plans to introduce new models on the current platforms and production lines by early 2025. He outlined a vision that includes diversification into areas such as AI, humanoid robots and a fleet of millions of autonomous vehicles.
Background and technical difficulties
Bloomberg reported that technical difficulties were the cause of the postponement of the Robotaxi presentation. These difficulties required the prototype to be refined and further tested. Tesla has not yet released any official details about the Robotaxi plans.
Back in early 2024, Musk faced questions from investors about the plans for more affordable electric vehicles. This led to the announcement that a Robotaxi would be unveiled in August.
Autopilot and full self-driving
The previous autopilot and full self-driving systems from Tesla still require the supervision of the driver, who must intervene quickly in the event of problems. Tesla The company is also facing several lawsuits for involuntary manslaughter in connection with accidents in which the driver assistance systems are alleged to have been involved.
In January 2023, it was revealed that Musk requested a staged demo drive in self-driving mode to demonstrate the capabilities of the technology. These revelations raise questions about the safety and reliability of the systems.
Conclusion
Tesla's postponement of the Robotaxi launch and the associated technical challenges show that the road to fully autonomous vehicles is rocky and lengthy. Investors and experts agree that the technology still has a few hurdles to overcome before it is ready for mass production. However, Tesla's focus on AI and robotics could open up new opportunities that go beyond the traditional vehicle market.
