Analysts criticise lack of detail about the ‘robotaxi’ showcased by CEO Elon Musk

Tesla shares fell nearly 9% on Friday, wiping about $60bn (£45bn) from the company’s value, after the long-awaited unveiling of its so-called robotaxi failed to excite investors.

Shares in the electric carmaker tumbled to $217 at market close following an event in Hollywood, where the chief executive, Elon Musk, revealed a much-hyped driverless vehicle. The stock price is down roughly 12% year-to-date.

However, analysts said the event was short on detail and also expressed disappointment over a lack of specifics about other Tesla projects. Musk has a history of making grand projections about upcoming products and failing to follow through in the timeframe he has set, or at all.

  • magnetosphere@fedia.io
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    51
    ·
    1 month ago

    Musk is facing a LOT more practical scrutiny now that the cybertruck is an ongoing fiasco. People are rightfully wary of getting excited about a taxi that only seats two people. Anyone who’s been paying attention will also be suspicious of his claims that the taxi will actually cost under 30k, or that it will truly go into production “before 2027”.

    I will admit that the van looks cool as hell. Of course, I still think Musk is a piece of human garbage, but I will give him that.

    • GenosseFlosse@feddit.org
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      33
      ·
      1 month ago

      It’s a bus. Elon Musk invented a bus. Now he only needs to invent a time machine, travel back to the 1800s and woo everyone with his new idea.

    • Dragonstaff@leminal.space
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      24
      ·
      1 month ago

      I love the aesthetic. I fully support Art Deco public transportation.

      A bus designed by someone who absolutely hates public transportation is pretty funny though. “I wish these seats faced each other so I could sit knee to knee with a stranger.” -Nobody Ever

      And there’s so little passenger space, they have a “luggage” compartment in the front. So I suppose I’m just supposed to put my bag there, out of my sight, then hope nobody takes it before I get off?

          • Hotzilla@sopuli.xyz
            link
            fedilink
            arrow-up
            15
            ·
            1 month ago

            The driver that is driving the vehicle because musk will not be able to deliver the FSD.

            • Cocodapuf@lemmy.world
              link
              fedilink
              arrow-up
              3
              ·
              1 month ago

              Well… It’s not being engineered with a driver in mind. I don’t think they can just slap a seat in there later; having vs not having a driver is a major design consideration. This vehicle has no driver, period. If the fsd doesn’t work, he has no vehicle.

              So the question isn’t “Will they put a driver in this car?”

              The question is “Will they get this cat on the road?”

              • Hotzilla@sopuli.xyz
                link
                fedilink
                arrow-up
                5
                ·
                edit-2
                1 month ago

                I can guarantee there is no design yet at all, the whole shit is just vaporware, like all musk’s demos. That demo 100% has driver in the van in the front.

                Edit: note that this part of the thread is about the bus. The robotaxi is definitely just CGI shit, no real engineer has even looked at the design yet.

    • Mog_fanatic@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      23
      arrow-down
      1
      ·
      edit-2
      1 month ago

      I still can’t get over the fact that he called the cybercab “individualized mass transit” lol. Wtf does that even mean. Mass transit… For an individual? So like… A car? Or a bicycle? I guess I’m just not smart enough to understand the world’s smartest human being ever.

    • OutlierBlue@lemmy.ca
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      16
      ·
      1 month ago

      It’s windowless. As someone who gets motion sickness if I can’t see out, I would cover the inside of that thing with barf. And the seats are conveniently facing sideways, which is another strong trigger for me, the barf would be aimed directly at the stranger facing me.

    • ChickenLadyLovesLife@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      2
      arrow-down
      3
      ·
      1 month ago

      now that the cybertruck is an ongoing fiasco

      Is it, though? I personally hate the fucking things, but it’s not like Tesla is having any trouble selling them.