Here’s What Tesla’s Delayed Self-Driving Taxi Looks Like Now: Testing in California

Tesla’s Robotaxi
Initially set for August but has been postponed
Recently spotted undergoing local testing

In April 2024, Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced on X (formerly Twitter) that the company’s autonomous robotaxi model would be unveiled on August 8. However, just under three months later, on July 11, Bloomberg News reported that Tesla had postponed the robotaxi reveal to October 2024. The delay was attributed to the need for additional time to produce a prototype and implement necessary design changes.

While “robotaxi” is not a specific brand name for Tesla, it refers to a self-driving vehicle designed to transport passengers like a traditional taxi equipped with SAE Level 4 autonomy or higher. Tesla has been working on commercializing this concept since 2016, previously introducing features like the Actually Smart Summon function, which allows a car to navigate to a passenger autonomously. This feature was launched in the first half of 2024.

Less than a month until the unveiling
spotted driving on the road with a yellow camouflage

Tesla announced that it would unveil its highly anticipated robotaxi in October at Warner Brothers Studio in California. However, on September 13, a mysterious vehicle was spotted on the road near the studio, capturing the attention. The car, covered in yellow camouflage, featured a design that diverged from existing models, prompting speculation that it could be Tesla’s robotaxi.

Given that Warner Brothers Studio is known for producing Hollywood films, the vehicle could be a custom design created for a movie. Film studios often utilize wrapped cars for security purposes, making it challenging to confirm the true identity of the yellow vehicle. However, suspicions grew when a Tesla Model Y was seen closely following it, lending credence to the theory that this could indeed be the robotaxi.

The leaked vehicle looks identical to the original concept car
Expected to be a two-seater subcompact vehicle

On September 2, influencer Green, who specializes in analyzing Tesla’s hardware technology, revealed that Tesla had begun extensive data collection near Warner Brothers Studios. This statement lends further credibility to the notion that the yellow camouflaged vehicle spotted there is indeed Tesla’s robotaxi. Amid delays in the robotaxi’s unveiling and an uncertain outlook presented to investors, Tesla appears to be gearing up for a significant reveal.

The vehicle’s design, which does not resemble a typical four-seater, reinforces the belief that it is a robotaxi. Concept images featured in Walter Isaacson’s book “Elon Musk,” along with a model crafted from cardboard and wood by Tesla’s chief designer, Franz von Holzhausen, depict the robotaxi as a two-seater. A closer inspection of the camouflaged body reveals similarities to these concepts, further supporting the speculation.

Ongoing research into self-driving driving technology
This could mark a significant turning point for Tesla

Tesla is working hard to develop technologies that can drive without people on board. For example, the regulations on the FSD (Full Self-Driving) function were relaxed after China gave Tesla an adequate rating for data safety inspection in April 2024 through consultations with China. If Robotaxis is launched, it is expected that the learning data obtained through actual road driving will increase, contributing to the advancement of autonomous driving technology.

Musk mentioned that he had requested “significant design changes to the front end” and noted that the extra time would allow for unveiling “a few other things.” These include a lower-cost vehicle based on the Model 3 platform and a new version of the Full Self-Driving system, V13. Furthermore, when an X user suggested that “October 10 will be the most important moment for Tesla since the Model 3 reveal,” Musk responded with “I think so,” indicating that expectations for the Robotaxis are escalating.