Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced on Monday that the unveiling of the company’s robotaxi will be postponed to accommodate a significant design change to the vehicle’s front and to showcase additional features.
Originally scheduled for August 8, the launch event has now been pushed to October, according to Bloomberg News. Musk did not specify a new date for the event but mentioned on his social media platform, X, that the extra time would allow Tesla to incorporate the new design and unveil a few additional enhancements. “Requested what I think is an important design change to the front, and extra time allows us to show off a few other things,” Musk stated.
The development of robotaxis and autonomous driving systems faces numerous engineering and regulatory challenges. Wall Street analysts and Tesla investors have expressed that the delay in the robotaxi launch is not surprising, given these hurdles.
The focus of the company has shifted from introducing a new, more affordable entry-model to the current lineup to developing robotaxis. This affordable variant was also expected to be the first car officially launched in the Indian market. However, the change in plans appears to have impacted Tesla’s India plans as well. Technical details about the robotaxi remain sparse, with Musk mentioning that some vehicles will be owned and operated by Tesla, while others will be owned by individuals and rented out through Tesla’s network.
