Tesla Robovan
{{Short description|Self-driving van from Tesla}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2024}}
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| name = Tesla Robovan
| image = File:Tesla Robovan concept van, as unveiled, October 2024.jpg
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| manufacturer = Tesla, Inc.
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| designer = Franz von Holzhausen
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| body_style = Van
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The Tesla Robovan is an electric autonomous van planned for future development by Tesla. Announced in October 2024, the vehicle is being designed to carry up to 20 passengers.
History
=Background=
The Tesla Master Plan Part Deux, released in 2016, suggested the development of a "people-mover,"{{cite news |url=https://www.tesla.com/master-plan-part-deux |title=Master Plan, Part Deux
|work=tesla.com |date=20 July 2016 |access-date=25 October 2024}} and in 2022 Tesla CEO Elon Musk spoke of the development of a "highly configurable Robovan for people & cargo."{{cite web|url=https://www.drive.com.au/news/2024-tesla-robovan-coming-soon-report/ |title=Tesla Robovan could arrive in 2024 based on Cybertruck platform |work=drive.com.au |date=14 December 2022 |access-date=25 October 2024}}
The future large vehicle was teased at Tesla's 2023 Investor Day in March 2023, and the Tesla Master Plan Part 3, released a month later, outlined the production of a commercial van as part of the two vehicles it was going to launch along with a robotaxi.{{cite news |url=https://www.tesla.com/master-plan-part-3 |title=Master Plan Part 3 |date=5 April 2023 |access-date=25 October 2024}}
=Announcement=
A concept version of the autonomous electric Robovan was unveiled on 10 October 2024 at the "We, Robot" event at Warner Brothers Studio in Los Angeles, with a prototype driving up near the main stage, and 14 people exited the vehicle. The Cybercab and the first free-walking Optimus humanoid robots were the principal features of the event.{{cite news |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/elon-musk-unveils-the-robovan-the-biggest-surprise-from-tesla-s-we-robot-event/ar-AA1s4hW3 |title=Elon Musk unveils the Robovan: the biggest surprise from Tesla's We, Robot event |work=TechCrunch |date=10 October 2024 |access-date=24 October 2024 }}
The Robovan can carry up to 20 passengers and also work separately as a cargo van. TechCrunch said the vehicle had a "retro-futuristic look" with no steering wheel. Tesla CEO Elon Musk said "We’re going to make this, and it’s going to look like that."{{cite news |url=https://www.roadandtrack.com/news/a62573810/tesla-robovan-revealed/ |title=The Tesla Robovan Is Elon Musk's Vision of Group Transport for the Future |work=roadandtrack.com |date=10 October 2024 |access-date=25 October 2024 }} The Robovan is intended to operate on the Tesla Network, Tesla's ridehailing service for self-driving vehicles.{{Cite news |url=https://www.theverge.com/2024/10/10/24267158/tesla-van-robotaxi-autonomous-price-release-date |title=Tesla's robovan is the surprise of the night |work=The Verge |date=10 October 2024}}