Tesla to operate fleet of self-driving taxis, says Elon Musk
What's the story
Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, has revealed plans for the company to operate a fleet of self-driving taxis. During an investor conference call yesterday (April 23), Musk described this groundbreaking idea as a combination of Airbnb and Uber. He explained that the service would allow car owners to decide whether or not their vehicles are included in the fleet.
Strategy
Musk's announcement is a response to slow sales
Musk's announcement comes ahead of Tesla's scheduled launch of its highly anticipated robotaxi on August 8 this year. This initiative is seen as a response to slow sales and competition from affordable Chinese electric vehicles (EVs). Musk also revealed that the taxi fleet would comprise both Tesla-owned cars and those owned by individuals, who can control when their car is available for use.
Features
What to expect from Tesla's ride-hailing app?
Tesla has provided a sneak peek into the ride-hailing app service, which will be integrated into the existing Tesla app. The preview showcased features similar to Uber, such as the ability to request a ride and pre-set the car's temperature before its arrival. This autonomous ride-hailing service has been under development for several years, with Musk previously promising that Tesla's robotaxi would start passenger services as early as 2019.
Regulation
Regulatory approval for unsupervised FSD in the US discussed
During the investor call, Musk discussed the regulatory approval for unsupervised Full Self-Driving (FSD) in the US. He expressed confidence that if they can demonstrate safety data, significant regulatory hurdles are unlikely. This statement follows Tesla's recent release of its latest FSD software version to customers.
Preview
Tesla's ride-hailing app features a 'Summon' button
Tesla upcoming ride-hailing mobile app will include features such as a "Summon" button, a 3D map for tracking the vehicle's journey, and options to select music. However, the app does not explicitly mention the autonomous nature of the vehicle.
Designing
Tesla's robotaxi will be 'purpose-built'
Tesla's robotaxi is expected to be "purpose-built," a term often used in the autonomous vehicle industry to refer to vehicles, designed from the ground up to be self-driving. The company also plans to use an "unboxed" manufacturing approach. This could speed up car production by starting with a single-piece cast, painting only the necessary parts, and assembling the rest simultaneously.