Tesla Unveils Plans for Million-Car Robotaxi Network by 2020
Tesla aims to deploy a massive fleet of autonomous robotaxis by 2020, allowing owners to earn money through a dedicated ride-sharing app. The company relies on its new custom self-driving chip and a pending over-the-air software update to make this ambitious vision a reality.
Tesla announces plans to launch a network of autonomous robotaxis in 2020, as revealed by CEO Elon Musk during the company's Autonomy Day. Musk expresses strong confidence that Tesla secures regulatory approval in at least some jurisdictions to operate these driverless vehicles next year. This initiative fulfills a long-standing vision for the Tesla Network, allowing the company to compete directly with ride-sharing giants like Uber and Airbnb.
The business model allows Tesla owners to add their properly equipped personal vehicles to a dedicated ride-sharing app to generate income. Tesla takes a 25 to 30 percent cut of the ride revenue, and in areas where personal cars are scarce, the company supplies a dedicated fleet of robotaxis. All new Tesla vehicles already contain the necessary custom full self-driving computer chip, which Musk boasts is the best in the world and completely avoids the use of lidar technology.
The final step for this massive rollout is a software update, which Musk promises makes the vehicles fully autonomous by the middle of next year. He predicts that over a million Tesla vehicles instantly transform into robotaxis through a simple over-the-air update. While Musk repeatedly notes the necessity of regulatory approval, he does not specify exact local, state, or federal requirements needed to legally deploy this extensive driverless fleet.