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Tesla Robotaxi

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Re: Tesla Robotaxi

#761

Post by zizee »

tdb7893 wrote: post #293
zizee wrote: post #276

Who is the customer for this? Sub $30k appeals to regular people. But why would regular people want to own a robotaxi? I want robotaxis to exist so I don't have to own a car. I want someone else to own it, and I pay to use it once in a while. If this works, wouldn't just Tesla operate as a taxi company?

Wait, why wouldn't I want my own robotaxi if it's cheap enough? Unless taking taxiw is much cheaper it seems much better to own one, especially for electric cars which have less maintenance requirements. A lot of people I know like their cars and don't want to take taxis everywhere. Maybe I'm missing how it wouldn't be appealing to regular people.

I'm not say no one would want this. I'm saying that it's odd play. Most people that own their own cars do not want the limits of 2-seaters. 29k is a price point that appeals most to private buyers. If robotaxis exist, a lot of people would opt to not own a car at all.

Re: Tesla Robotaxi

#762

Post by valval »

The race to full self driving is not going to be close. Tesla has no competition.

The anti-Tesla sentiment here is hilarious to watch though. All because this place is largely leftist, and their CEO is on the right.

Re: Tesla Robotaxi

#763

Post by valval »

rib3ye wrote: post #360
davedx wrote: post #320

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's not entirely true. Waymo have remote control operators, these would have the same - you don't need 100% foolproof autonomy to operate a fleet of cars like this. I am also highly sceptical of everything about Tesla's program though

You're going to buy a personal car that can be remoted into at any time?

With my permission? Sure!

Re: Tesla Robotaxi

#764

Post by tim333 »

zizee wrote: post #761
tdb7893 wrote: post #293

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Wait, why wouldn't I want my own robotaxi if it's cheap enough? Unless taking taxiw is much cheaper it seems much better to own one, especially for electric cars which have less maintenance requirements. A lot of people I know like their cars and don't want to take taxis everywhere. Maybe I'm missing how it wouldn't be appealing to regular people.

I'm not say no one would want this. I'm saying that it's odd play. Most people that own their own cars do not want the limits of 2-seaters. 29k is a price point that appeals most to private buyers. If robotaxis exist, a lot of people would opt to not own a car at all.

Hypothetical here, but my mum's 88 and various relatives have had to give up driving around age 90 due to becoming dangerous, so I've been kind of looking out for something like this that could get her around in that event.

Another thing re the price point, in other news "Apollo launched its sixth-generation robotaxi at Apollo Day 2024 in Wuhan, Hubei province today, costing 200,000 yuan ($27,670), a 60 percent drop compared to its predecessor." https://cnevpost.com/2024/05/15/baidu-apollo-launches-6th-ge...

So maybe they are trying to keep up with the Apolloses. Which are actually out there taking rides - they are similar to Waymo.

Re: Tesla Robotaxi

#765

Post by xnx »

davedx wrote: post #320
marsten wrote: post #172

The most interesting thing to me by far was the lack of a steering wheel on the Robocab. Without manual controls, vague promises ("puffery"?) about autonomy won't drive vehicle sales as they do today across all Tesla's models. The Robocab as shown literally cannot function (or make a dime of revenue) until they've fully solved autonomy and have convinced regulators of the same.

That's not entirely true. Waymo have remote control operators, these would have the same - you don't need 100% foolproof autonomy to operate a fleet of cars like this. I am also highly sceptical of everything about Tesla's program though

Waymo support staff is more akin to conductors, they can choose actions for the vehicle to take, but can not control steering/acceleration/brake. In car controls are still used by field support staff if the car is really stuck or for emergency services.

Re: Tesla Robotaxi

#766

Post by xnx »

haspok wrote: post #326
modeless wrote: post #292

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You'd have to ask him. He worked there for 5 years, maybe he just wanted a change instead of a second 5 years of sprinting to the goal? In interviews he says he is still bullish on Tesla.

Of course he is bullish on Tesla, probably still has some stocks or stock options. Otherwise saying that he is bullish costs nothing to him. And "wanted a change" my *ss. If you believe the hype that autonomous driving is really just around the corner (has been since 2015) AND you are leading the R&D of the company that does this, would you want to jump ship before the product is shipped? Do you think Jobs would have…

Could also be a non-disparagement clause in a contract he signed.

Re: Tesla Robotaxi

#767

Post by xnx »

gniv wrote: post #407
wilsonnb3 wrote: post #15

Anybody know why the autonomous taxi isn't just a model 3? I don't see the point in a purpose built two seater with no steering wheel or pedals and I don't know why regulators would approve an autonomous car with no way to manually override it.

BTW, Google tried this too (building a small 2-seater w/o controls). What happened to that project? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCezICQNgJU

Retired. Explained here: https://medium.com/waymo/from-post-it-note-to-prototype-the-...

Re: Tesla Robotaxi

#768

Post by elAhmo »

For me the surprising thing is that the stock fell "just" 8% after this event. No sane investor should believe anything CEO says, given he is running multiple companies, is busy with upcoming election, as well as propagating conspiracy theories and hate speech on his platform.

After a decade of lies, this is another nail in the coffin and I honestly can't believe the marketcap of this company hasn't been significantly affected by something that was supposed to be a big reveal of those promises.

Re: Tesla Robotaxi

#769

Post by elAhmo »

modeless wrote: post #645
7thpower wrote: post #556

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I thought they said they were scrapping the $25k car?

Reuters said that, and Elon directly denied it. I think it is likely that the $25k car was delayed somewhat from whatever its initial plan was, but not canceled.

When is it going to be released if it has just been delayed?

Re: Tesla Robotaxi

#770

Post by elAhmo »

Zanfa wrote: post #528
redwood wrote: post #369

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not my experience driving FSD in silicon valley. I was floored

I obviously don't know your personal experience, but with the amount of videos from Tesla owners showcasing FSD turning into oncoming traffic, trying to clip parked cars, blazing through stop signs without even slowing down and taking roundabouts the wrong way around in 30 minutes and then finishing the video by concluding that FSD did well is insane. Just the amount of scary FSD footage from Cybertrucks alone that o…

Algorithm sometimes pushes those videos to me as well, and it seems that common narrative is 'great new update to FSD, I only had three interventions that could have killed me this morning'.
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