Tesla plans to launch a semi-self-driving ride-hailing service in Austin and San Francisco this June. Initially, Model Ys will be available not to the public, but to Tesla employees. Musk claims that by mid-2026, millions of Teslas worldwide will operate autonomously. Even more provocatively, he suggests that Full Self-Driving (FSD) could soon allow you to nap while your car drives you to your destination. While critics are skeptical about Tesla's camera-only approach, Musk envisions this capability being available in many U.S. cities by year's end.
The automation dream goes beyond vehicles, as Musk foresees his Optimus humanoid robots taking over Tesla assembly lines. He predicts thousands of factory robots by the end of the year, scaling up to millions by 2029. Musk claims no other company measures up to Tesla in this robotic race.
Musk plans to focus more on Tesla, reducing his governmental obligations to just one or two days a week. This shift comes after a significant downturn in Tesla's first-quarter earnings, which saw a 71% drop in profits and a 9% decline in revenue.
Summary: Elon Musk maintains his reputation for audacious claims, foreseeing a near future led by autonomous Teslas and robotic manufacturing. While skepticism persists, his past successes suggest that Musk's visions, no matter how ambitious, are not beyond reach.
