World’s richest man Musk has always been obsessed with the concept of automated driving
Tesla’s CEO Elon Musk who is world’s richest man at present recently announced that by 2024, his company will start the mass production of robotaxis; an automated driverless taxi/taxi service without steering wheel or pedals. The announcement was made a few days ago at the inaugural function of Tesla’s new factory in Austin, Texas.
What is the importance of this article?
Elon Musk is a man known for his futuristic visions and therefore, he has always been obsessed with the concept of automated/driverless vehicles. The latest announcement from Musk has shaken the world of automated vehicles because a number of other players are already working on the concept of automated taxis. In short, it is crucial to monitor the developments in the said industry.
The initial plan
The initial plan of Musk and Tesla was to make normal Tesla cars with full self-driving capability. This plan was a part of Musk's ‘Master Plan Part Deux’ that was announced by him in 2016. However, the latest plan is a shock to many because at present, there are numerous companies such as Alphabet unit Waymo, Argo AI, Aurora, GM’s self-driving subsidiary Cruise, Motional and Zoox working on robotaxies.
What will happen if Tesla reaches its target?
Given how successful Tesla is as a company and how far they have come in the field of electric vehicles, it will be tough for the above-mentioned companies to go against Tesla. Not to forget, Tesla’s ADAS and full-self driving beta software have made it the most successful car manufacturer in the field of EV and automated vehicles.
What can we expect from Musk’s robotaxies?
At the moment, Musk or his company has shared no details about their upcoming robotaxies. However, given they are futuristic vehicles, we expect the robotaxies to feature automated sliding doors, climate control, easier cleaning, face-to-face seating, on-time pick-up and drop facility, low cost per kilometre connectivity along with state-of-the-art multimedia equipment onboard and 5G/Wi-Fi connection.
Last but not the least, Musk’s official statement about his upcoming venture
To the large crowd gathered at the factory, Elon Musk said, “Massive scale. Full self-driving. There's going to be a dedicated robotaxi. I think can be very powerful product where we aspire to reach volume production in 2024. I think the robotaxi really will be a massive driver of Tesla’s growth.”
