5 Things We Just Learned About Tesla’s Upcoming $25,000 EV

THE ROBOTAXI WON’T HAVE ANY CONTROLS

Just for the robotaxi model, the design would remove steering wheels, mirrors, and pedals to fully embrace an autonomous look. In theory, this design would solely rely on Tesla’s Full-Self Driving tech. Musk did acknowledge the risk in designing it as a “clean robotaxi,” but wanted to go “all in on autonomy.”

Unfortunately, we’re not sure the public is ready for that. Full-Self Driving has had a spotty history despite being a relatively new technology. There are ways around its safety checks, like using a stuffed animal, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has opened several investigations looking at fatal accidents where Tesla models were involved. Hopefully, Tesla will have worked out all the kinks by the time its robotaxi releases.

YOU COULD MAKE MONEY OFF THE ROBOTAXI

It is being referred to as a robotaxi, after all. In the report, Musk says that Tesla owners would earn more than $30,000 by sending out their robotaxis to run errands or offer driverless rides to others. Tesla robotaxi owners would even be able to rent out their EVs on Tesla’s car-sharing network, as revealed back in 2019. That would be one way to recoup the cost of buying the Tesla in the first place.