Tesla's Head Designer Hints Robotaxi Could Get Additional Form Factors

Could this be the Robovan concept or something else similar?

• At the Petersen Automotive Museum, Tesla's Chief Designer unveiled the Cybercab.
• Noting that Tesla has additional "future vehicles" mentioned during the presentation, they will also accommodate "several passengers"
• This is in line with previous statements from Tesla's Head of Investor Relations, suggesting that the company may have more robotaxi formats in development

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Might Tesla have an additional surprise in store for the self-governing vehicles coming up the pipeline?

Tesla is set to release a longer wheelbase Model Y with three rows for the Chinese market, while also planning the introduction of multiple new vehicles in the latter half of 2025.

The comments from Axelrod and von Holzhausen have sparked speculation about the possibility of Tesla having other autonomous Robotaxis in the works, which the world is not yet aware of.

Tesla intentionally designed the Cybercab with two seats, according to statements from the company. The data analysis indicates that most taxi rides have only one or two passengers, suggesting that a two-seat Cybercab could lower operational costs and optimize storage space. Nonetheless, this configuration would create a significant void for those seeking to transport groups in an autonomous vehicle.

The thought of incorporating a commercially available robotaxi platform without any steering wheels or pedals is an interesting concept.

Tesla may invest in upgrading its existing models with the latest Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology, or focus on introducing new, dedicated vehicles that would expedite the adoption of FSD. Could this be a suggestion made by Franz during his talk at Petersen Museum?

Photo by: Tesla

There are doubts as to whether the upcoming dedicated platform will be the Robovan, since this would require Tesla to make costly accessibility concessions to its network from the very beginning, rather than waiting for it to grow and develop. The Robovan, designed to carry over 20 people, will need to meet the Americans With Disabilities Act requirements for demand-responsive transportation systems, which involve being "readily accessible and usable". This means the Robovan must be designed from scratch to be usable by people with disabilities, featuring built-in ramps, doors, and accessible controls, for immediate accessibility. In contrast, the two-seater Cybercab (and the rest of Tesla's fleet) would only need to provide "equivalent service", allowing people with disabilities to use alternative methods to access the service.

Ongoing worries about the funding needed to establish and keep it operational.

It would be puzzling for Axelrod to offer this prediction if Tesla had no plans to introduce multiple new vehicles in the coming year.

For the time being, the Cybercab and Robovan are the only two dedicated robotaxi platforms that Tesla has officially announced globally. Whether these vehicles augment its existing product lineup or introduce entirely new ones remains to be seen. However, this move at least offers some explanation for Tesla's high stock price volatility.

More Tesla Robotaxi News

• Tesla anticipates a plethora of new product releases in 2025.
• Upcoming Tesla Robotaxi to boast significantly reduced component count, utilizing a minimalist approach similar to that of the Model 3, with an estimated 50% fewer parts compared to its predecessor, indicating a streamlined design and efficiency.
• Tesla's market capitalisation has surpassed the $1 trillion dollar milestone.
• Elon Musk's Electric Car Company Won't Address Basic Needs With Cheaper Cars, Focus On Autonomous Vehicle Development