#Tesla Delays Robotaxi Reveal to Make Important Design Change
Tesla CEO Elon Musk confirmed on Monday that the company would be delaying its robotaxi reveal event. The delay was due to Musk requesting an “important design change to the front.” This news comes after Bloomberg reported last week that the event would be pushed to October, despite initially aiming for an August 8 event. Tesla shares experienced a temporary decline of over 6% following the report but have since recovered.
Musk took to X, the social media network he owns, to respond to a question about the delay. He stated that the extra time would allow Tesla to showcase a few other things alongside the robotaxi. This explanation provides some insight into the purpose of the delay and highlights Musk’s attention to detail when it comes to design changes.
The robotaxi event was first teased by Musk in April, coinciding with a report stating that Tesla had abandoned plans for a new vehicle built on a next-generation platform that would cost around $25,000. Musk refuted this report on X and reaffirmed his commitment to the robotaxi project. Initially, Tesla had intended to develop both the dedicated robotaxi and the $25,000 car (referred to as the Model 2 by fans) on the same platform. However, Musk has since shifted his focus towards the robotaxi concept and has been undecided about building a new vehicle with traditional features like a steering wheel and pedals.
Shortly after announcing the robotaxi event, Musk made headlines by laying off more than 10% of Tesla’s global workforce and declaring that the company was fully committed to autonomy. This move emphasized his determination to prioritize self-driving technology and autonomous vehicles.
It is worth noting that Musk has a reputation for surprising both the public and his own employees with unexpected announcements. In February, he revealed on X that the long-awaited second-generation Tesla Roadster would be capable of even greater speeds than originally promised. This announcement caught the Roadster development team off guard, according to The Information.
Similarly, the robotaxi event announcement took Tesla employees by surprise, according to an anonymous source familiar with the matter. Musk’s inclination to announce projects and changes without prior notice often puts employees in a scramble to adjust and adapt.
Overall, the decision to delay the robotaxi reveal in order to make an important design change highlights Tesla’s dedication to innovation and perfection. It also sheds light on Musk’s leadership style and his tendency to keep both his employees and the public on their toes with unexpected announcements.