At the We, Robot event on October 10, 2024, Tesla unveiled two of its most radical electric vehicles in history – Cybercab and Robovan. The company aims to step up its place in the world of autonomous vehicles with these models, offering Level 5 capability for a pure driverless experience. These EVs could mark a seismic shift in the transport sector if Tesla manages to launch them as promised. Here’s everything we know about the Tesla Cybercab and Tesla Robovan:
Tesla Cybercab
Design
The Tesla Cybercab, unofficially also called the ‘Tesla Robotaxi,’ is an unconventionally designed two-door coupe for two passengers. There’s a visible influence of the Tesla Cybertruck in the front and rear lights. The body has a peculiar look, being oddly tall, but that would work in favor of practicality, giving tall passengers easy ingress and egress. Scissor doors further ease entering and exiting the vehicle, in addition to giving it a theatric styling.
The minimal use of character lines gives the Tesla Cybercab a clean and polished appearance. Fully covered wheels add to that understated look and are central to the futuristic character of the car. There’s no rear window on this model, and another striking difference from typical two-door coupes is the use of a top-hinged, liftback-style tailgate.
Interior
The interior of the Tesla Cybercab is a visibly minimalist, uncluttered space that makes passengers feel as if they’re sitting in their living room. The dashboard is visibly slim and features a symmetrical design on both sides. The car is devoid of a steering wheel, pedals, and physical controls. It has a huge monitor-like touchscreen for the infotainment system, attached to the central part of the dashboard. This system allows passengers to control all the functions of the car, play games, watch videos, and browse the web.
The Tesla Cybercab has a flat floor and offers generous space for passengers. Its wide seats are reminiscent of reclining chairs at home and to an extent even boss chairs in the office. The EV has a wedge-shaped, wide armrest and two cupholders between the seats. The door panels feature smooth lines and minimal sculpting, which is in line with the simplistic and low-key theme of the car.
Specifications
Tesla has not revealed the specifications of the Cybercab, but it’s safe to assume that the company will offer it in single-motor RWD and dual-motor AWD configurations. Since this is a driverless car, the company will tune it for maximum comfort and safety. It expects the two-door EV to be extremely efficient, delivering an energy efficiency of up to 5.5 miles/kWh. At present, the Lucid Air holds the crown, returning up to 4.3 miles/kWh, as per EPA. The company estimates the operating cost will be just around 20 cents/mile.
Release Date
Tesla plans to launch the Cybercab in the U.S. in 2026 and expects to price it from under USD 30,000 after factoring in incentives. The company aims to manufacture more than two million units of the Cybercab a year, which sounds pretty ambitious.
Tesla Robovan
Design
The Tesla Robovan is a driverless EV engineered purely for commercial use and is so futuristic that it looks like it came straight out of a sci-fi movie. It’s just a big passenger cell on wheels. The electric van features a streamlined exterior inspired by the art deco trains of the 1920s and 30s, slim light bands at the front and rear, sliding doors, and wheels tucked underneath the body. It has small cargo storage areas at both front and rear, which users can access through top-hinged doors that slide up.
Interior
A cavernous interior is the main talking point of the Tesla Robovan, thanks to its hands-free operation. The giant cabin with a flat floor is like a modern living space, which passengers have to step into like entering a house or a building. Wide, floating seats, subtle mood lighting, and beautifully contoured surfaces give the cabin the ambiance of a luxurious lounge.
There are two front-facing rows of seats and two rear-facing rows of seats in the cabin, both pushed back to keep the space in the center empty. Large TV screens, one located at the front and one at the rear, show passengers essential details like time, weather, and stops. Customers could be able to use them for advertising like in trains and buses.
Tesla says the Robovan can accommodate up to 20 people and be used to transport goods as well. Thus, the company will likely offer it in multiple configurations with different interior layouts and designs.
Specifications
Tesla has yet to disclose the specifications of the Robovan, but considering the model’s purpose, we think the company could equip it with two motors. Using only one motor could make it underpowered and more than two might be an overkill. Tesla expects the cost of traveling in the Robovan to be as low as 5-10 cents/mile.
Release Date
Tesla has not shared when it plans to launch the Robovan, but we doubt it will release this model anytime before 2028.
I got my Master’s in Business Management & Administration and have been an International Automotive News Editor since 2014. I’ve traveled to global motor shows and automotive events, driven various types of vehicles, and focused on hybrid and electric cars in the last 4 years.
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