Tesla chief executive Elon Musk has outlined plans for the robotaxi. Reuters
Tesla chief executive Elon Musk has outlined plans for the robotaxi. Reuters
Tesla chief executive Elon Musk has outlined plans for the robotaxi. Reuters
Tesla chief executive Elon Musk has outlined plans for the robotaxi. Reuters

Tesla robotaxi will offer services similar to Uber and Airbnb, Elon Musk says


Ian Oxborrow
  • English
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Tesla's robotaxi will be used as a service similar to Uber and Airbnb, according to the electric car company's chief executive Elon Musk.

The robotaxi, which hasn't been seen as Tesla has yet to release any images, is expected to begin volume production in 2024.

Mr Musk has described it as an self-driving vehicle without a steering wheel or pedals.

Speaking at Tesla's annual stockholder meeting, he said the new model would offer its owners an opportunity to rent out their vehicles based on how often they needed to use it.

“There are parking lots full of cars everywhere because cars need a driver and so, most of the time they are doing nothing,” he said.

“Typically, a passenger car is going to have 12 hours a week of usage. If it is autonomous, maybe it could get to 50 or 60 hours of usage.

“The interesting thing is the car still costs the same. So, in that scenario, at least for some period of time, the gross margin for an autonomous car boggles the mind,” he said.

  • Tesla chief executive Elon Musk speaks during the opening day of the Tesla Gigafactory in Gruenheide, Germany. EPA
    Tesla chief executive Elon Musk speaks during the opening day of the Tesla Gigafactory in Gruenheide, Germany. EPA
  • Musk speaks next to German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and the prime minister of Brandenburg state, Dietmar Woidke, during the opening ceremony. AFP
    Musk speaks next to German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and the prime minister of Brandenburg state, Dietmar Woidke, during the opening ceremony. AFP
  • The Tesla chief, right, was cheered as he oversaw the handover of the car maker's first German-made cars at the Gruenheide plant. EPA
    The Tesla chief, right, was cheered as he oversaw the handover of the car maker's first German-made cars at the Gruenheide plant. EPA
  • Musk described the opening as "another step in the direction of a sustainable future". EPA
    Musk described the opening as "another step in the direction of a sustainable future". EPA
  • Tesla is likely to launch a test version of its new "full self-driving" software in Europe, possibly next year, the chief executive said. EPA
    Tesla is likely to launch a test version of its new "full self-driving" software in Europe, possibly next year, the chief executive said. EPA
  • Musk dances as he hands over the first Teslas from the new factory. Getty Images
    Musk dances as he hands over the first Teslas from the new factory. Getty Images
  • Musk said battery production will be a "challenge" next year and a "limiting factor" in the coming years. Reuters
    Musk said battery production will be a "challenge" next year and a "limiting factor" in the coming years. Reuters
  • Tesla cars are parked at the site of the new Tesla Gigafactory in Gruenheide, Germany. Reuters
    Tesla cars are parked at the site of the new Tesla Gigafactory in Gruenheide, Germany. Reuters
  • Tesla was handing over the first Model Y cars made at its €5 billion Gruenheide plant to clients on March 22, the company said. Getty Images
    Tesla was handing over the first Model Y cars made at its €5 billion Gruenheide plant to clients on March 22, the company said. Getty Images
  • The new Tesla Gigafactory is the company's first European production centre. Getty Images
    The new Tesla Gigafactory is the company's first European production centre. Getty Images
  • Newly completed Tesla Model Y electric cars parked at the site near Gruenheide. Getty Images
    Newly completed Tesla Model Y electric cars parked at the site near Gruenheide. Getty Images
  • The new factory is the largest investment in a German car factory in recent history. Getty Images
    The new factory is the largest investment in a German car factory in recent history. Getty Images
  • A road sign reading 'water protection area' next to the Tesla logo at the site of the Tesla factory. EPA
    A road sign reading 'water protection area' next to the Tesla logo at the site of the Tesla factory. EPA
  • A road sign reading 'Tesla Street' at the new plant. EPA
    A road sign reading 'Tesla Street' at the new plant. EPA
  • A building under construction at the Tesla factory. EPA
    A building under construction at the Tesla factory. EPA
  • At full capacity, the factory will produce 500,000 cars annually. EPA
    At full capacity, the factory will produce 500,000 cars annually. EPA
  • Tesla plans to hire 12,000 workers at the plant. Bloomberg
    Tesla plans to hire 12,000 workers at the plant. Bloomberg

Having a self-driving vehicle will enable owners to also leverage its usage when they don't require it, Mr Musk said.

“In terms of how the car would be operated, you would have the option of owning a car and just using it occasionally when you need it — Auto-Uber or something like that, and then the owner of the car might decide they want to use the car or add or subtract it from the fleet. It would end up being a combination of Airbnb and Uber, or something like that,” he said.

Tesla's full self-driving programme is currently at the beta stage. More than 100,000 drivers in North America have access to the system, which requires the driver to remain vigilant and ready to take control.

The system has drawn scrutiny from regulators after a numbers of crashes were alleged to have occurred under autopilot.

Since 2016, the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has sent teams to 39 crashes in which self-driving systems were suspected of being in use, according to agency documents.

Of those, 30 involved Teslas, including crashes that caused 19 deaths.

Mr Musk said the proposed robotaxi service would not be linked to a specific city or location.

“Some states and cities will provide regulatory approvals quicker than others. We are aiming for a general solution,” he said.

“If you created a randomly generated alternate Earth, our system would still work.”

Mr Musk has said in the past that he saw the robotaxi as a potentially massive driver of growth for Tesla, and that the aim is for it to achieve the lowest fully considered cost per kilometre.

The Tesla Cybertruck is also set to go into production next year, but will be more costly than originally planned amid inflationary pressures.

  • People take pictures of the newly unveiled Cybertruck in 2019. The vehicle's release to the market in 2021 was delayed by at least two years. AFP
    People take pictures of the newly unveiled Cybertruck in 2019. The vehicle's release to the market in 2021 was delayed by at least two years. AFP
  • The Cybertruck was originally priced at $39,900 in 2019 - but inflationary prices have pushed other Tesla vehicles up in cost. AFP
    The Cybertruck was originally priced at $39,900 in 2019 - but inflationary prices have pushed other Tesla vehicles up in cost. AFP
  • Mr Musk stands in front of Cybertruck, after a metal ball was thrown at the windows to show how tough they are. Tesla / Reuters
    Mr Musk stands in front of Cybertruck, after a metal ball was thrown at the windows to show how tough they are. Tesla / Reuters
  • Mr Musk discusses vehicle dimensions in front of the Cybertruck. AFP
    Mr Musk discusses vehicle dimensions in front of the Cybertruck. AFP
  • The Tesla Cybertruck is unveiled at Tesla's design studio. AP
    The Tesla Cybertruck is unveiled at Tesla's design studio. AP
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The Florida Project

Director: Sean Baker

Starring: Bria Vinaite, Brooklynn Prince, Willem Dafoe

Four stars

Arrogate's winning run

1. Maiden Special Weight, Santa Anita Park, June 5, 2016

2. Allowance Optional Claiming, Santa Anita Park, June 24, 2016

3. Allowance Optional Claiming, Del Mar, August 4, 2016

4. Travers Stakes, Saratoga, August 27, 2016

5. Breeders' Cup Classic, Santa Anita Park, November 5, 2016

6. Pegasus World Cup, Gulfstream Park, January 28, 2017

7. Dubai World Cup, Meydan Racecourse, March 25, 2017

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Jetour T1 specs

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Jonathan Miller, Scribe Publications

The biog

Name: Salem Alkarbi

Age: 32

Favourite Al Wasl player: Alexandre Oliveira

First started supporting Al Wasl: 7

Biggest rival: Al Nasr

THE BIG THREE

NOVAK DJOKOVIC
19 grand slam singles titles
Wimbledon: 5 (2011, 14, 15, 18, 19)
French Open: 2 (2016, 21)
US Open: 3 (2011, 15, 18)
Australian Open: 9 (2008, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21)
Prize money: $150m

ROGER FEDERER
20 grand slam singles titles
Wimbledon: 8 (2003, 04, 05, 06, 07, 09, 12, 17)
French Open: 1 (2009)
US Open: 5 (2004, 05, 06, 07, 08)
Australian Open: 6 (2004, 06, 07, 10, 17, 18)
Prize money: $130m

RAFAEL NADAL
20 grand slam singles titles
Wimbledon: 2 (2008, 10)
French Open: 13 (2005, 06, 07, 08, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20)
US Open: 4 (2010, 13, 17, 19)
Australian Open: 1 (2009)
Prize money: $125m

MATCH INFO

England 19 (Try: Tuilagi; Cons: Farrell; Pens: Ford (4)

New Zealand 7 (Try: Savea; Con: Mo'unga)

It Was Just an Accident

Director: Jafar Panahi

Stars: Vahid Mobasseri, Mariam Afshari, Ebrahim Azizi, Hadis Pakbaten, Majid Panahi, Mohamad Ali Elyasmehr

Rating: 4/5

Sri Lanka Test squad:

Dimuth Karunaratne (stand-in captain), Niroshan Dickwella (vice captain), Lahiru Thirimanne, Kaushal Silva, Kusal Mendis, Kusal Janith Perera, Milinda Siriwardana, Dhananjaya de Silva, Oshada Fernando, Angelo Perera, Suranga Lakmal, Kasun Rajitha, Vishwa Fernando, Chamika Karunaratne, Mohamed Shiraz, Lakshan Sandakan and Lasith Embuldeniya.

MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League quarter-final second leg:

Juventus 1 Ajax 2

Ajax advance 3-2 on aggregate

Fight card

1. Featherweight 66kg: Ben Lucas (AUS) v Ibrahim Kendil (EGY)

2. Lightweight 70kg: Mohammed Kareem Aljnan (SYR) v Alphonse Besala (CMR)

3. Welterweight 77kg:Marcos Costa (BRA) v Abdelhakim Wahid (MAR)

4. Lightweight 70kg: Omar Ramadan (EGY) v Abdimitalipov Atabek (KGZ)

5. Featherweight 66kg: Ahmed Al Darmaki (UAE) v Kagimu Kigga (UGA)

6. Catchweight 85kg: Ibrahim El Sawi (EGY) v Iuri Fraga (BRA)

7. Featherweight 66kg: Yousef Al Husani (UAE) v Mohamed Allam (EGY)

8. Catchweight 73kg: Mostafa Radi (PAL) v Ahmed Abdelraouf of Egypt (EGY)

9.  Featherweight 66kg: Jaures Dea (CMR) v Andre Pinheiro (BRA)

10. Catchweight 90kg: Tarek Suleiman (SYR) v Juscelino Ferreira (BRA)

UAE Rugby finals day

Games being played at The Sevens, Dubai

2pm, UAE Conference final

Dubai Tigers v Al Ain Amblers

4pm, UAE Premiership final

Abu Dhabi Harlequins v Jebel Ali Dragons

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A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.

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RESULT

Norway 1 Spain 1
Norway: King (90 4')
Spain: Niguez (47')

The Sand Castle

Director: Matty Brown

Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea

Rating: 2.5/5

Royal Birkdale Golf Course

Location: Southport, Merseyside, England

Established: 1889

Type: Private

Total holes: 18

TV: World Cup Qualifier 2018 matches will be aired on on OSN Sports HD Cricket channel

Gifts exchanged
  • King Charles - replica of President Eisenhower Sword
  • Queen Camilla -  Tiffany & Co vintage 18-carat gold, diamond and ruby flower brooch
  • Donald Trump - hand-bound leather book with Declaration of Independence
  • Melania Trump - personalised Anya Hindmarch handbag
How to wear a kandura

Dos

  • Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion 
  • Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
  • Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work 
  • Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester

Don’ts 

  • Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal 
  • Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
UPI facts

More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions

THE SPECS

      

 

Engine: 1.5-litre

 

Transmission: 6-speed automatic

 

Power: 110 horsepower 

 

Torque: 147Nm 

 

Price: From Dh59,700 

 

On sale: now  

 
Updated: August 15, 2022, 6:35 AM