AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Tesla will construct a car devoted to be used as a robotaxi, and it’ll begin making three new autos subsequent 12 months, CEO Elon Musk informed followers at a celebration celebrating the opening of a Texas manufacturing facility.
Musk didn’t give particulars of the robotaxi apart from to say it’ll “look quite futuristic.” He additionally mentioned Tesla will begin constructing the Cybertruck pickup at its new manufacturing facility close to Austin, Texas, subsequent 12 months. After that, it’ll begin constructing a brand new Roadster and an electrical semi, he mentioned.
He made his remarks Thursday night time on the “Cyber Rodeo at Giga Texas,” an invitation-only celebration for hundreds of friends at Tesla’s new billion-dollar-plus manufacturing facility.
As many as 15,000 individuals had been anticipated to attend the non-public occasion hosted to mark the opening of the brand new manufacturing facility in Travis County that additionally serves as the corporate’s new headquarters following its transfer from California.
Musk mentioned on the Thursday night time occasion streamed reside on YouTube that Tesla was delivering the primary Model Y small SUVs constructed on the new manufacturing facility, which he mentioned could make a half million of the SUVs per 12 months.
Tesla and Musk have usually missed targets to begin producing autos. In 2019, he promised a fleet of autonomous robotaxis can be on the street the next 12 months, however the firm’s “Full Self-Driving” software program continues to be being examined by chosen Tesla homeowners on public roads.
The firm is the biggest maker of electrical autos within the U.S. and the world.
Musk mentioned this 12 months will probably be about scaling up the Austin manufacturing facility in addition to a new one in Germany. He additionally mentioned the corporate might begin constructing a robotic in 2023. “Next year there’s going to be a massive wave of new products,” he informed the group Thursday night time.
A county-issued allow mentioned the occasion included interactive excursions, meals, alcohol and reside leisure. But the occasion was off-limits to most of the people and the information media.
Musk has mentioned the Austin-area plant will make use of as much as 10,000 employees.
