Tesla is reportedly delaying its planned “robotaxi” unveiling event from August to October, according to Forbes London News. The company needs more time to finalize prototypes before making the design public, which caused Tesla’s shares to drop by over 6%.
Elon Musk had teased the robotaxi event in April, coinciding with reports that Tesla was reconsidering plans for a new $25,000 vehicle on a next-generation platform. Musk disputed these reports on his social media platform, X.
Internally, Tesla had planned to develop both the robotaxi and the Model 2 (as fans call the $25,000 car) on the same platform. However, Musk has since favored focusing solely on the robotaxi concept.
Following the robotaxi event announcement, Musk initiated a significant workforce reduction and emphasized Tesla’s commitment to autonomy. This approach mirrors Musk’s tendency to publicly announce initiatives that catch even Tesla employees off guard, such as recent revelations about the capabilities of the second generation Tesla Roadster.
Sources familiar with the matter noted that the robotaxi event announcement also surprised many within Tesla, highlighting Musk’s unilateral approach to company announcements.
