Musk didn't give details of the robotaxi
other than to say it will "look quite futuristic." He also said Tesla
will start building the Cybertruck pickup at its new factory near Austin,
Texas, next year. After that, it will start building a new Roadster and an
electric semi, he said.
He made his remarks Thursday night at the
"Cyber Rodeo at Giga Texas," an invitation-only party for thousands
of guests at Tesla's new billion-dollar-plus factory.
As many as 15,000 people were expected to
attend the private event hosted to mark the opening of the new factory in
Travis County that also serves as the company's new headquarters following its
move from California.
Musk said at the Thursday night event
streamed live on YouTube that Tesla was delivering the first Model Y small SUVs
built at the new factory, which he said can make a half million of the SUVs per
year.
Tesla and Musk have often missed targets to
start producing vehicles. In 2019, he promised a fleet of autonomous robotaxis
would be on the road the following year, but the company's "Full
Self-Driving" software is still being tested by selected Tesla owners on
public roads.
The company is the largest maker of
electric vehicles in the US and the world.
Musk said this year will be about scaling
up the Austin factory as well as a new one in Germany. He also said the company
may start building a robot in 2023. "Next year there's going to be a
massive wave of new products," he told the crowd Thursday night.
A county-issued permit said the event
included interactive tours, food, alcohol and live entertainment. But the event
was off-limits to the general public and the news media.
Musk has said the Austin-area plant will
employ up to 10,000 workers.