Isbark.com

Tesla has done it again. As part of a special unveiling ceremony in early October, the American brand showed off two exciting new vehicles that it hopes to hit the market within the next several years. While debuting with striking styling synonymous with recent Tesla products (such as the polarizing Cybertruck), they are also packed full of advanced technology.

Company founder and CEO Elon Musk was on hand to show off the new Robotaxi and Robovan at Warner Bros Studios in California. These are the most important details we learned about the vehicles during the event.

10 Both Are Fully Autonomous

Tesla Robotaxi

• Targeted for launch in 2026
• Fully autonomous, no driving controls
• Could cost 20 cents a mile to run
• Features inductive charging

The key aspect of both the Robotaxi and Robovan is that they are both fully autonomous. They are designed to be a part of Tesla’s self-autonomy network, which will allow its products to rely on the advanced software designed by the company to ensure its vehicles can control themselves with the utmost safety.

The idea is that the Robotaxi and Robovan can be left to their own devices while carrying out a wide variety of jobs, allowing users to do whatever they like while traveling to their destinations.

9 No Steering Wheels Or Pedals Are Included

The future is here according to Tesla, as neither the Robotaxi nor Robovan come with physical driving controls. This means that Level 5 autonomous driving is the only way to travel in these vehicles, with no way to manually override the actions of the vehicle. This is not the first time we’ve seen cars without any physical controls.

The abolition of any kind of analog controls not only means that users can completely forget about having to do any of the hard yards themselves, but they also have more space to use. This means that more cargo can be brought along for the ride, or the occupants can enjoy greater space to relax in.

8 They Are Designed To Take The Stress Out Of Driving

Musk explained during the event that these vehicles were designed to take the stress out of modern driving, particularly in cities. Queuing in traffic is one of the most frustrating aspects of contemporary driving, and, while the Tesla can’t cure this problem, it can help to deal with it. Users could take a power nap while waiting and leave the vehicle to do the work.

They are also useful in terms of highway driving, where less confident drivers can take themselves out of the equation of having to merge in traffic and deal with scary trucks.

7 Also Aimed At People That Can’t Afford To Buy A Car

Musk insisted that the Robotaxi in particular was being angled towards people who can’t afford to own a car. He feels that with ample development time, the Robotaxi could cost its operator just 20 cents a mile to run. This compares favorably to the cost of running a new car, which the Bureau of Transportation Statistics worked out to be around 72 cents a mile in 2022.

Whether business operators of the vehicle actually offer cut-price travel, rather than pocketing the profits for themselves, remains to be seen, though.

6 They Take Away Parking Concerns

Another aspect these vehicles can help with is traffic. With 91.7% of households in the US all owning at least one vehicle, as per Forbes, parking can be tricky, especially in busy cities. There’s nothing more frustrating than having to circle an area desperately searching for a space.

The Robotaxi and Robovan don’t suffer from this problem, helping to reserve parking spots for car drivers, and saving their users from having to worry about finding one and carrying out parking maneuvers.

5 Tesla Reckons They Can Be 10 Tiimes Safer Than Human-Controlled Vehicles

Biggest Reasons For Car Crashes In The US

Another aspect Tesla reckons its self-autonomous vehicles can prove beneficial is in terms of accidents. Musk insisted that with continuous development, cars like the Robotaxi and the Robovan could be ten times safer on the road than cars piloted by humans.

He felt this would become a reality due to vehicles not suffering from distraction or conducting dangerous driving like a human does. These elements are the highest cause of crashes in the US according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA.)

4 Both Are Set To Be Offered To Consumers

Both the Robotaxi and Robovan will be made available to consumers, as well as businesses that run conventional taxi operations. Musk stated during the launch event that the Robotaxi would retail for less than $30,000, making it a tempting deal when compared to many conventional vehicles on the road today.

For reference, a base 2025 Toyota Corolla can be had from $22,175, but you also have to factor in the cost of a driver.

3 Tesla Hoping Self Autonomy Will Be Legal In Texas And California In 2025, Robotaxi To Follow In 2026

Tesla Robovan

• Fully autonomous, no driving controls
• Will carry up to 20 passengers
• Has inductive charging
• Release TBA

Musk shared his hopes that fully autonomous driving would be allowed in the states of Texas and California in 2025, though this law is yet to be passed. He revealed that the plan is for the Robotaxi to reach the consumer market in 2026, though given the ever-extending timeline for the anticipated Roadster, this should be taken with a pinch of salt.

The Model 3 and Y will be able to make use of Tesla’s full-autonomous tech should the law to use it on public roads be passed.

Related

It’s Now Cheaper Than Ever To Get Tesla-Like Tech In Your Ford

Ford’s BlueCruise hands-free system is more affordable than before, and can now be obtained through a one-time purchase.

2 Inductive Charging Will Be Utilized

Both vehicles will make use of inductive charging technology in order to recover power. Most EVs utilize a charging cable like most electronic appliances such as smartphones, though the Robotaxi and Robovan will do without them.

Inductive charging is when power can be transferred to a device from a pad-style outlet, which does away with any kind of cable. Tesla’s new vehicles can simply be parked on top of an inductive charging platform and charge wirelessly, just like a smartphone with wireless charging tech.

1 Robovan Can Carry Up To 20 People

The Robovan has been designed to carry up to 20 people in one go, though the seats can be removed at will so that it can be used to carry an extensive amount of cargo. This makes it ideal for bigger parties of people, such as work trips or ferrying around sports teams from place to place.

No technical specs for either have been made available by Tesla, though they’re bound to be pretty potent given their expectations to carry multiple people with ease.

Sources: Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Tesla, Forbes, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, PluglessPower