A humanoid robot, a CyberVan and an autonomous cyber taxi; Tesla has just unveiled its latest innovations during a show in Los Angeles in which Musk was the hero. Real innovations? Show or political meeting 1 month before the presidential election? Show to warm up a stock that has cooled down on the stock market? A bit of all that, no doubt.
Video from: We, Robot | Tesla Robotaxi Unveil : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6v6dbxPlsXs
Elon Musk wants to take back control and put on a show again, in order to restore his image and that of his iconic brand – Tesla – which has been somewhat shaken by competition, particularly from China, the stock market and the entry into politics of its founder. On Thursday night in Los Angeles, the billionaire unveiled Tesla's latest innovations during a show called "We Robot.". On the program, a humanoid robot, a self-driving taxi and bus. Impressive. But was this enough to reassure about the future of the brand and its founder?
Hollywood-style innovation
It was like being in a science fiction film. In a city of tomorrow, in the middle of the night, a real parade – almost military – of black and white robots, named Optimus, and stamped Tesla on the chest, appeared out of nowhere, under the admiring and astonished eyes of a bustling crowd multiplying photos and comments. A real staging, with a hero Musk at the top of the bill opening the show and raising the suspense aboard an autonomous car in night action among bicycles.
Video from: We, Robot | Tesla Robotaxi Unveil : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6v6dbxPlsXs
Optimus: the friendly bartender
His domestic robots, humanoid bipeds, demonstrated their real capabilities. Some were able to converse with onlookers, others, disguised as bartenders, with cowboy hats, were particularly "friendly and professional".
As reported by GoldenGeek, on X, who went to the bar and says: "He serves cannons at the tap (I already like that), he sees a guy taking a selfie, he asks him "Do you want a picture?", he takes a pose and continues to take orders for Watermelon margarita!" Not only the robot fills the glass of beer well, but Optimus also lets out "Peace everybody!" to set the mood. Not bad!
Not yet available to the general public, these humanoids could be priced between 20 and 30000$ each.
A personal CyberCab… to share
Another veil lifted during this show: a 100% autonomous taxi car, the CyberCab, without pedals or steering wheel, can accommodate two passengers, and has a large trunk. A very "Tesla" design, metallic, sober, almost too much, at the hybrid concept sinceIt will work on the principle of car sharing : we acquire this vehicle, we use it for our personal use and the rest of the time, it can be used by other people via an Uber-type application. Interesting and attractive from an ecological point of view and even economically if this sharing brings benefits to its owner. Does Musk imagine that this robotaxi will replace all private cars tomorrow?
A small, discreet innovation in passing: while driving, this cab diffuses a large bright laser beam when it detects a potential obstacle, in order to be seen and reassure passengers.
The price is, as is often the case with Tesla, attractive; Musk promises it at less than 30,000$, with a start-up of production lines in 2027.
Autonomous taxi on the road in 2026
Finally, on the occasion of this parade of the future organized in a studio transformed into an American city, Musk was able to make his cinema and unveil his bus of tomorrow, the CyberVan. Promised in 2016, it looks like many vehicles from science fiction films... of yesterday, very stripped down to the point that some people like to compare it to... a toaster. No steering wheel, no pedals, no technician on board, This bus autonomous can carry 11 passengers. With no controls, the driverless cyber taxi requires a permit to operate, which Musk hopes to obtain, at least in California, by 2026, by a new battery of tests. 2026, that is to say tomorrow! But what will happen if Trump is elected, he who is hostile to the electric car AND to the autonomous car?..
A show to impress again or to reassure?
Without a doubt, this show was a nice and fun moment of innovations, where we already imagined ourselves in the city of tomorrow. But we cannot question the temporality of this event.
CyberVan and CyberCab are arriving (soon) with a little delay, especially if we consider the autonomous taxis that are already running in some cities, such as San Francisco, under the Waymo brand, a subsidiary of Google, and others tested on the road by General Motors.
Sales and a political shift that are worrying
And then, these innovations are announced with fanfare while the brand's car sales are declining worryingly: -8.5% in the first quarter! An obvious effect of Asian competition, even if a lot of Teslas are still sold - 387,000 in the 1er quarter 2024. Another difficulty, the brand is no longer boosted by its spectacular innovations having achieved a successful form of autonomous electric car, its competitors having largely made up for lost time. Restoring Tesla's image is therefore becoming a necessity.
Show or meeting?
Some finally claim that his "total support" for Trump announced in July by Musk, is starting to harm the brand's image and is encouraging certain buyers (particularly Democrats) to sulk the brand. The numbers of 3e semester will be interesting to observe in this regard.
Organized exactly one month from the 1er The American presidential election, which in the event of a Trump victory could see Musk promoted to minister or advisor, also had all the makings of a political meeting and a final stretch of self-promotion.
A big celebration, nonetheless, but in a context that is not very enthusiastic for the brand. Since September 30, Tesla shares have lost 16.5% on the stock market. from New York, including 8.5% on Friday alone! As a sign of investor skepticism about the real capacity for innovation of the brand founded by Musk and its abrupt turn towards politics.
