I have significant doubts about this “any Tesla as robotaxi” idea at least if you’re referring to Musk’s empty promises about how you could make money off your own Tesla while not using it.
The simple explanation is indeed that they’ve noticed 2 seats is enough for most taxi usage and IIRC I’ve seen some articles say the data supports that. They’ve optimized the Cybercab to be their taxi in this and other ways. Clearly they’ve also made efforts to maximize its range and chosen an interior that is easy to clean, removed the glass roof and even the rear window that would possibly not last so long in heavy use etc.
If there’s ever going to be a bigger taxi from them I’d expect it to be another purpose-built vehicle.
If 80%+ of rides is 2 people or less, I dont think it make sense to necessarily make a purpose built vehicle when you already make a vehicle you sell to consumers that can fill the small gap? (Edit and I dont mean use their cars, but their own internal fleet like they use today)
Thats a lot of capital expenditures for a small slice of the rides, of which you wont even be the only company serving.
They are also working on a purpose built small bus type vehicle, but that wont be a hail for 3 people kinda thing, itll be for routes that people get on/off of.
My bet is theyll make another vehicle they can sell to consumers for personal non taxi use, but will also be cheaper and work for the up to 4 or 5 people taxi rides. So not quite purpose built, but with some intentions towards it.
I have significant doubts about this “any Tesla as robotaxi” idea at least if you’re referring to Musk’s empty promises about how you could make money off your own Tesla while not using it.
The simple explanation is indeed that they’ve noticed 2 seats is enough for most taxi usage and IIRC I’ve seen some articles say the data supports that. They’ve optimized the Cybercab to be their taxi in this and other ways. Clearly they’ve also made efforts to maximize its range and chosen an interior that is easy to clean, removed the glass roof and even the rear window that would possibly not last so long in heavy use etc.
If there’s ever going to be a bigger taxi from them I’d expect it to be another purpose-built vehicle.
If 80%+ of rides is 2 people or less, I dont think it make sense to necessarily make a purpose built vehicle when you already make a vehicle you sell to consumers that can fill the small gap? (Edit and I dont mean use their cars, but their own internal fleet like they use today)
Thats a lot of capital expenditures for a small slice of the rides, of which you wont even be the only company serving.
They are also working on a purpose built small bus type vehicle, but that wont be a hail for 3 people kinda thing, itll be for routes that people get on/off of.
My bet is theyll make another vehicle they can sell to consumers for personal non taxi use, but will also be cheaper and work for the up to 4 or 5 people taxi rides. So not quite purpose built, but with some intentions towards it.