Elon Musk, the chief executive officer (CEO) of Tesla, announced that the Tesla Robotaxi, which he has been promising for years, is expected to be unveiled on the 22nd (local time) in Austin, Texas. Musk expressed excitement, stating that this product is "the most important product in Tesla's history."
According to CNN on the 12th, this Robotaxi is a vehicle that implements completely autonomous driving without a steering wheel and pedals, based on Tesla's self-developed Full Self-Driving (FSD) system. However, there is ongoing controversy regarding safety and detection capabilities as it excludes the LiDAR sensors adopted by competitor Google Waymo and implements autonomous driving solely with cameras and artificial intelligence.
Tesla plans to enter the ride-sharing market based on autonomous driving technology. Musk claimed that "there are no corporations to compete with," suggesting that Tesla could capture 99% market share. He also emphasized that "this technology will bring the greatest rise in asset value in human history."
However, experts point out that economic feasibility and practicality are greater challenges than technological capability. Bryant Walker Smith, a professor at Stanford University, said, "It’s not easy for a corporation like Tesla to compete with vehicles operated by human drivers like Uber in terms of expenses." He explained that maintaining an autonomous driving system incurs significant labor costs, including for engineers, mechanics, and remote support personnel.
In the actual U.S. Robotaxi market, Google Waymo is already ahead. It operates a paid ride service with 250,000 rides per week in four cities, including San Francisco, Phoenix, and Austin, and has surpassed a total of 10 million rides. In contrast, Tesla has yet to achieve any commercial service milestones. Musk has repeatedly predicted the commercialization of Robotaxis, but each time it has been delayed, raising questions about the market’s trust. The release schedule has also been stated to be "tentative" and not confirmed.
Tesla's autonomous driving system is currently marketed under the name "Full Self-Driving," but in reality, it requires constant driver intervention. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is investigating multiple incidents of accidents that occurred with vehicles using this system. Reports indicate that detection errors have led to collisions in situations where visibility was restricted due to sunlight, fog, dust in the air, and other conditions.
The market suggests that a real turning point is needed for Tesla. Last year, Tesla's net profit fell by 53% to $7 billion compared to the previous year, and quarterly revenue also decreased at the largest rate in history. The stock price has dropped by nearly 30% from its peak. Concerns have been raised that political controversies or Musk's relationship with former President Donald Trump are also impacting the corporate image.
Gordon Johnson, an analyst at GLJ Research, noted that "this announcement is more about proof of concept rather than actual commercialization," indicating that securing sustainability in the market is key rather than short-term technology showcases. Professor Smith remarked, "Musk's announcements are always bold, but they often fall short of practical implementation. We will have to see if this promise is kept this time as well."