Tesla is introducing a robotaxi on August 8, Elon Musk has announced on X a number of hours after Reuters printed a report that the automaker is scrapping its plans to provide a low-cost EV. Reuters additionally stated that Musk’s directive was to “go all in” on robotaxis constructed on the corporate’s small-vehicle platform. Tesla has been promising a extra inexpensive EV with costs anticipated to begin at $25,000 for years, and Musk stated as not too long ago as this January that he is optimistic the mannequin will arrive within the second half of 2025. In response to the report, the Tesla chief tweeted that “Reuters is mendacity (once more).”

He did not make clear which a part of the report was a lie, however contemplating he confirmed that Tesla is unveiling a robotaxi, he seemingly meant the information group’s declare that the corporate pulled the plug on a extra inexpensive EV. For the time being, Tesla’s most cost-effective automobile is the Mannequin 3, however its costs begin at $39,000. It will be attention-grabbing to see how the corporate will make a robotaxi work with its camera-only system — it dropped radar and different sensors, which robotaxi firms like Waymo use extensively, from its driver help applied sciences a number of years in the past.