Tesla unveils Robovan and Optimus Robot, Elon Musk predicts future dominated by AI
Tesla has revealed two exciting new products: the Robovan, a large shuttle van that can seat up to 20 people, and Optimus, a humanoid robot priced between $28,000 and $30,000. However, Tesla CEO Elon Musk did not specify when the robot would be available.
“I think this will be the biggest product ever, of any kind,” Musk said about Optimus, adding, “I think everyone’s going to want their Optimus buddy.” The presentation ended with several robots dancing on stage amid a light show.
Before the event, Musk posted on X, formerly Twitter, hinting at a “futuristic world” experience at the event location. He shared images from a pamphlet showing four themed areas: “TSLA Theater,” “New York,” “Metropolis,” and “Westworld.” The event featured Texas BBQ, arcade games, and a block party with street performers. Despite starting nearly an hour late due to a medical emergency in the crowd, the event attracted over 3 million viewers on the live stream via X.
The unveiling of the Robovan and other innovations marks a major milestone for Tesla. The highly anticipated Robotaxi, initially set to debut in August, was delayed because of a design change Musk requested. He explained that the extra time would also allow the company to showcase additional products.
Musk has repeatedly emphasized that Tesla’s future hinges on reaching full autonomy. “The value of Tesla overwhelmingly is autonomy,” he told investors in July. However, Tesla’s self-driving technology still faces challenges. Its Full-Self-Driving (FSD) upgrade remains in beta and requires constant human supervision. In 2016, Musk predicted a Tesla vehicle would autonomously drive from Los Angeles to New York by 2017. However, several promised deadlines for fully autonomous Robotaxis have come and gone.
Regulatory approval remains a significant hurdle for Tesla’s self-driving technology. A National Highway Traffic Safety Administration report recently noted hundreds of crashes involving Tesla’s Autopilot software, resulting in 29 fatalities. While Tesla currently offers Level 2 independence, Alphabet’s Waymo, partnered with Uber, has achieved Level 4 independence in some US cities.
Analysts predict fully independent Robotaxis are still several years away. Regulatory approval and overcoming technological challenges will be key hurdles for Tesla’s progress in the coming years.