As expected, Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk showcased an entire Robotaxi park in Hollywood. He also unexpectedly revealed a second vehicle — an autonomous truck called Robovan.
What did Tesla fans see?
Robovan looks like a huge toaster on wheels, and it lacks a steering wheel, pedals, and a driver. According to Elon Musk, the vehicle can accommodate up to 20 passengers and can be converted to transport cargo if needed.
The billionaire did not provide production details or disclose a price for the model.
When Robovan took the stage, Musk said, “What if you need a car bigger than the Model 9? It will look like this… Imagine you’re walking down the street and you see this coming towards you. And it’s cool!”
People at the Hollywood presentation were amused by how Elon Musk pronounced “Robovan.” Several puzzled Tesla fans posted about it on X (formerly Twitter). One wrote that the name “Robovan” sounded “like a herpes medication” coming from Musk’s mouth. Users said the word should be pronounced “rou-bou-van,” but Musk pronounced it “roh-boh-vin,” the Daily Mail reported.
This isn’t the first time Musk has baffled people with an odd pronunciation.
What about Robotaxi?
Tesla will begin production of this new model within the next two years. Passengers will be able to call the driverless car using a special mobile app.
One of the features of this model is gullwing doors that passengers will lift to get into the car. The exterior is a golden metallic color with several black accents. Instead of typical spoked tires, the Robotaxi sports round plates with cutouts in the center that resemble huge speakers. The front headlight appears as a continuous thin line, Designboom.
The glossy seats with headrests, reminiscent of medical chairs, somewhat resemble puffer jackets. A single display on the dashboard will likely inform passengers about the vehicle’s movement.
Elon Musk announced that the starting price for the robotaxi would be no less than $30,000.
