--- title: "Elon Musk Says Tesla Robotaxi Is Coming After Denying Report of Robotaxis Coming" description: "Elon Musk announced a robotaxi just hours after denying a report that the Model 2 was cancelled in favor of a robotaxi." date: "2024-04-07" modified: "2024-04-07" authors: - name: "Nico DeMattia" job_title: "Contributing Writer" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/nico-demattia" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/elon-musk-says-tesla-robotaxi-is-coming-after-denying-report-of-robotaxis-coming" categories: - "News" - "News by Brand" - "Tesla News" tags: - "Electric Vehicle" - "Tesla" --- # Elon Musk Says Tesla Robotaxi Is Coming After Denying Report of Robotaxis Coming ![]() *Tesla Model 3 Highland. Tesla \Tesla\* I guess Elon Musk wanted to get ahead of being corrected by *X*'s community notes, so he decided to correct himself. On Friday, [*Reuters* ]()reported that [Tesla ]()is axing the entry-level Model 2 in favor of self-driving robotaxis, to which Musk[ claimed "Reuters is lying (again),"]() without any specifics. However, only about five hours later, Musk [then posted]() "Tesla Robotaxi unveil on 8/8." Community notes crisis averted. In Musk's defense, his denial of *Reuters*' story could have been referring to the claim that the entry-level [Model 2 ]()was being scrapped and that the Robotaxis would instead be sold alongside it. However, the timeline is interesting, as Musk told investors back in January that the Model 2 would [begin production in late 2025](). If that were to happen, an August 2024 reveal for the Model 2 would make sense. But instead, the August reveal will be for a Robotaxi. https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1776351450542768368?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1776351450542768368%7Ctwgr%5Eed9d3803ddaa66200de6cc1c407966c346fcf881%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.autoblog.com%2F2024%2F04%2F06%2Felon-musk-says-tesla-will-unveil-its-robotaxi-this-year%2F *Reuters* reportedly laid eyes on internal Tesla documents in which a program manager for the Model 2 seemingly closed the book on the entry-level EV by thanking their team. "I’d like to thank everyone for all your hard work and dedication to pushing boundaries and executing the best design possible given the aggressive constraints we had to work within," said the manager in the company messages. "We would not want all our hard work to go to waste, so it’s important that we tie things off and document things properly." This sounds a lot like a colossal goal post-shift. Given Tesla's usually glacial production pace, a 2025 release date for the Model 2 seemed overly ambitious. However, switching it to a Robotaxi buys Musk a nearly infinite amount of time with investors and customers alike. Robotaxis aren't even close to being possible on a large scale and are barely possible on a small scale, as both [Waymo ]()and [Cruise ]()have recently proven. So shifting gears toward a Robotaxi gives Tesla and Musk a carrot to indefinitely dangle. With a Robotaxi, Tesla can push the release date back over and over again, as it has with truly full self-driving, and won't have to actually build anything anytime soon. Semiannual "updates" on its technology, will keep customers and investors on the hook while also providing Tesla with little stock price bumps when needed. After Musk's Robotaxi announcement, Tesla's stock jumped 3%, following its 5% dip after *Reuter*'s initial story. ![]() **A new Tesla Model 3 "Highland" is on display at the China International Import Expo in November 2023.* VCG via Getty Images* This also isn't the first time Musk talked about a fully driverless robotaxi, devoid of a steering wheel and pedals. "It's fundamentally optimized for trying to achieve the lowest fully considered cost per mile, cost per kilometer, accounting everything,"[ he told investors in Q1 2022](). "I think that that really will be a massive driver of Tesla's growth." However, during that same earnings call, he also said he expected volume production by 2024. Could the entry-level Model 2 have been a Robotaxi all along, which is why Musk denied *Reuters*' report? That's possible, considering the Model 2 was supposed to start at around $25,000 and Musk already said a Robotaxi would be the most cost-effective vehicle possible. However, it's also possible that *Reuters* reported something Elon didn't want public and decided to put out the media fire by announcing the Robotaxi himself. *Got tips? Send 'em to tips@thedrive.com* ## Author Nico is a writer and reviewer from New Jersey who probably thinks he’s a lot funnier than he actually is. His love of cars began when he was just a kid playing Gran Turismo 3, grinding out enough race wins with a Mazda Miata to save up for an in-game RUF 911. That passion for small, lightweight sports cars drove his desire to learn more about the industry, get his hands on as many cars as he could, and bring those experiences to life on the page. He cut his teeth writing about BMWs, Volkswagens, and Audis, mostly, and has owned far too many of each. He’s on his fourth 3 Series sedan, but all of his old, cheap German cars have forced him to learn more about car maintenance than his mechanical capability can handle. Too many late nights have been spent scrambling to get a car running by morning so he could get to work. For some reason, he never seems to learn that old Bimmers probably aren’t the best daily drivers. But he loves more than just old German cars. He’ll gladly drive and discuss anything with four (or even three) wheels. Cars aren’t his only passions, though. Nico is also a big nerd and loves movies, video games, comic books, and cares far too much about the New York Giants. So don’t be surprised if you see football references or dumb, obscure movie quotes in any of his car reviews. ### Author social links [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()