Elon Musk Promises A Million “Self-Driving Robotaxis” By 2020

Elon Musk Promises A Million “Self-Driving Robotaxis” By 2020

SUMMARY

Tesla CEO Elon Musk revealed his vision during the company’s Autonomy Day conference

Musk also said that all new vehicles are now equipped with a custom self-driving chip

In March, Musk had revealed his plans to expand Tesla operations to India

Electric vehicle major Tesla is no stranger to pushing the boundaries of automotive technology. The company’s cofounder Elon Musk has now said that it is also aiming to launch ‘robotaxis’ as part of its broader vision for achieving autonomous ride-sharing network in 2020.

Speaking at Tesla Autonomy Day, Musk also revealed that all new vehicles are now being produced with a custom full self-driving computer chip which meets the hardware requirements for a self-driving feature.

Musk also said that the self-driving taxi service would be operational once development of the required software is complete. Musk expects the service to be ready at a reliable level by mid-2020. He also explained that the autonomous robotaxi fleet will need regulatory approvals. But that didn’t stop him from making an ambitious claim of a million robotaxis by next year.

“Next year for sure, we’ll have over a million robotaxis on the road,” a Techcrunch report quoted Musk as saying.

While laying out his vision for the service, Musk added that Tesla is looking to allow its existing car customers to list their vehicles to the company’s own ride-sharing app which will have a business model similar to Uber. Tesla’s robotaxi ambition comes at a time when it is also looking to expand to India, with a launch possible next year. In March, Musk said in a Twitter thread that he would “love to be in India this year, in not, then definitely by next!”.

In November 2018, he had also hinted that his company has plans to establish a ‘partial presence’ in India, Africa, and South America by the end of next year with an aim to expand further in 2020.

The Many Roadblocks To Self-Driving Cars In India

In the Indian market, the introduction of driverless autonomous cars is a far-fetched dream. Moreover, the concept of autonomous vehicles has not received much support from the government.

Earlier in December, it was reported that union minister Nitin Gadkari is against introducing autonomous cars in the country. He explained that the government’s decision to stay away from such driverless vehicles arises from the need to protect the rate of employment. He added that switching to autonomous vehicles will cause a significant loss of jobs for people working in the automotive industry, primarily drivers.

Another major setback in the possibility of autonomous cars in India is the challenging conditions of roads and of course charging infrastructure. Apart from the budding technology in the country, Indian roads are more difficult to navigate than western countries, thanks to congestion and poor quality.

While the government is averse to the idea, research firm Ipsos has found that among 28 countries surveyed, the Indian market was most keen to have autonomous vehicles on road. Close to 50% of over 21K respondents from India expressed their interest to have autonomous vehicles.

Step up your startup journey with BHASKAR! From resources to networking, BHASKAR connects Indian innovators with everything they need to succeed. Join today to access a platform built for innovation, growth, and community.

You have reached your limit of free stories
Become An Inc42 Plus Member

Become a Startup Insider in 2024 with Inc42 Plus. Join our exclusive community of 10,000+ founders, investors & operators and stay ahead in India’s startup & business economy.

2 YEAR PLAN
₹19999
₹7999
₹333/Month
UNLOCK 60% OFF
Cancel Anytime
1 YEAR PLAN
₹9999
₹4999
₹416/Month
UNLOCK 50% OFF
Cancel Anytime
Already A Member?
Discover Startups & Business Models

Unleash your potential by exploring unlimited articles, trackers, and playbooks. Identify the hottest startup deals, supercharge your innovation projects, and stay updated with expert curation.

Elon Musk Promises A Million “Self-Driving Robotaxis” By 2020-Inc42 Media
How-To’s on Starting & Scaling Up

Empower yourself with comprehensive playbooks, expert analysis, and invaluable insights. Learn to validate ideas, acquire customers, secure funding, and navigate the journey to startup success.

Elon Musk Promises A Million “Self-Driving Robotaxis” By 2020-Inc42 Media
Identify Trends & New Markets

Access 75+ in-depth reports on frontier industries. Gain exclusive market intelligence, understand market landscapes, and decode emerging trends to make informed decisions.

Elon Musk Promises A Million “Self-Driving Robotaxis” By 2020-Inc42 Media
Track & Decode the Investment Landscape

Stay ahead with startup and funding trackers. Analyse investment strategies, profile successful investors, and keep track of upcoming funds, accelerators, and more.

Elon Musk Promises A Million “Self-Driving Robotaxis” By 2020-Inc42 Media
Elon Musk Promises A Million “Self-Driving Robotaxis” By 2020-Inc42 Media
You’re in Good company