Tesla Inc. is gearing up to unveil its highly anticipated robotaxi at an event hosted at Warner Bros. Discovery’s renowned movie studio in Burbank, California. Sources familiar with the matter revealed that Tesla aims to showcase the purpose-built robotaxi on October 10, leveraging the iconic backdrop of the studio’s expansive 110-acre lot, which has been a filming site for numerous Hollywood productions, including Batman movies and the popular TV series Friends.
While Tesla CEO Elon Musk declined to comment on the upcoming event, a spokesperson for Warner Bros. refrained from immediate response.
The event signifies Tesla’s strategic shift towards prioritizing autonomy and artificial intelligence, a departure from its core business of selling electric vehicles directly to consumers. Tesla is concurrently developing a proprietary ride-hailing application that will utilize both purpose-built robotaxis and existing consumer vehicles, all capable of operating autonomously without human drivers.
Industry watchers anticipate Musk to provide comprehensive insights into the technology behind Tesla’s autonomous vehicles during the Los Angeles event. Despite relocating its corporate headquarters to Austin in December 2021, Tesla’s design studio remains rooted in Hawthorne, California, underscoring the company’s ongoing ties to the West Coast’s technological ecosystem.
This isn’t the first time Musk has leveraged Hollywood studio spaces for product showcases. In 2016, Tesla showcased its solar roof product on the set of Desperate Housewives, highlighting Musk’s penchant for utilizing iconic locations to unveil transformative technologies.
Originally slated for August 8, Tesla postponed the robotaxi event to accommodate design revisions personally requested by Musk, as per media reports in July. The additional time has also enabled Tesla to finalize prototypes necessary for the demonstration, according to insiders familiar with the matter.
The upcoming robotaxi unveiling represents a pivotal moment for Tesla, signaling its ambitious strides in autonomous vehicle technology amidst a competitive landscape. The event is poised to provide stakeholders and enthusiasts alike with a deeper understanding of Tesla’s vision for the future of mobility, anchored in cutting-edge AI and self-driving capabilities.