- Tesla goes into the van enterprise with its Robovan.
- Elon Musk unveiled a prototype at Tesla’s “We, Robotic” occasion on Thursday.
- Musk first talked about making a van in 2016.
Tesla has introduced a brand new addition to its fleet of sedans and Cybertrucks — the Robovan.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk unveiled the Robovan on the firm’s “We, Robotic” occasion, which noticed the EV big showcase its newest autonomous choices.
Moreover the Robovan, Musk additionally touted Tesla’s upcoming car, the Robotaxi, or Cybercab, and the corporate’s Optimus robots.
The Robovan’s reveal got here as a shock, contemplating how most individuals had been solely anticipating to see the Robotaxi’s debut.
“What occurs if you happen to want a car that is greater than a Mannequin Y?” Musk mentioned on Thursday night earlier than a Robovan prototype rolled up in entrance of the stage.
Passengers then started disembarking from the car, which had doorways in its mid-segment — not not like a prepare.
The Robovan prototype’s interiors had been white. Passengers had been seated in rows of seats dealing with each other. Tv screens might be seen at the back and front of the car.
“We wish to change the look of the roads. The longer term ought to seem like the long run,” Musk mentioned of the Robovan’s design.
Musk mentioned the Robovan is supposed for high-density utilization, akin to ferrying sports activities groups. Through the presentation, he didn’t point out the Robovan’s worth or launch date.
“This could carry as much as 20 individuals and may also transport items,” Musk mentioned on Thursday.
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This is not the primary time Musk has talked about making a van earlier than.
Musk revealed a weblog publish titled “Grasp Plan, Half Deux” in July 2016, through which he mentioned that the EV trade wanted to transcend producing sedans and SUVs.
“Along with shopper automobiles, there are two different kinds of electrical car wanted: heavy-duty vans and excessive passenger-density city transport,” Musk wrote then.
“Each are within the early levels of improvement at Tesla and ought to be prepared for unveiling subsequent yr,” he added.
In a follow-up publish that was revealed in April 2023, titled “Grasp Plan Half 3,” Tesla once more teased the prospect of constructing a van.
Particularly, the plan included a desk of car sorts together with their Tesla-made equivalents. Notably, the time period “TBD” was listed for 2 classes — “Business/Passenger Vans” and “Bus.”
To make sure, Musk is not the one one seeking to money in on mass autonomous transport.
In 2021, a Chinese language autonomous driving firm named WeRide unveiled its personal self-driving cargo van, additionally known as the “Robovan.”
“It is an autonomous driving car. In the event you put a seat there it could possibly function a robotaxi automotive. In the event you put a cupboard there it’s actually a logistics automotive,” WeRide CEO and founder Tony Han instructed CNBC in 2021.
In Could, WeRide mentioned it had obtained a license to conduct highway exams for the car in Guangzhou, China.
