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LIVE BLOG: Tesla 10/10 “We, Robot” Robotaxi unveiling event

Credit: Nic Cruz Patane/X

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2 years ago

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Tesla’s highly-anticipated 10/10 Robotaxi unveiling event, dubbed “We, Robot,” is finally here. To state that expectations are high for the Robotaxi would be an understatement, as CEO Elon Musk has been pretty open about the idea that the vehicle would be a huge player in Tesla’s future. 

“We, Robot” is being held at the Warner Brothers Studios in Burbank, CA, with remarks expected to start around 7 p.m. PT. Seemingly highlighting the Robotaxi’s importance to Tesla’s overall potential, watch parties for the event are being held at selected showrooms, and a livestream of the occasion is available online. 

We will be closely following the updates from Tesla’s Robotaxi unveiling event in this live blog. We will also be publishing a number of articles focused on the key announcements at the event. I will be updating this article in real-time, so please keep refreshing the page to view the latest updates on this story. The first entry starts at the bottom of the page. 

20:30 PT – And with that, the demonstration rides in the Cybercab are starting! Thank you so much for staying with us for this live blog. We had a blast. Please check out our further coverage of “We, Robot’s” updates. Until the next time!

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20:15 PT – Elon Musk shared an optimistic take on the future. “It will be the age of abundance,” Musk said.

He notes that the Optimus robots would be walking alongside the attendees of the “We, Robot” event. The Optimus robots will serve drinks at the bar. “It’s a wild experience,” Musk said. “And with that, let’s party!”

20:13 PT – An army of Optimus Gen 2 units is now coming out. 

“If you extrapolate this, it will be something spectacular. Something you can own,” Elon Musk said. “At scale, this should cost somewhere around $20,000 to $30,000.” A video showcasing Optimus’ home uses is also showcased. “I think this will be the biggest product ever of any kind,” Musk said.

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20:11 PT – Musk noted that with the advent of Robotaxis, parking lots could be reclaimed as parks. 

The Robovan (Robovin?) also takes to the stage. The vehicle could carry up to 20 people or transport goods. It’s Tesla’s high-density transport. 

It looks extremely futuristic, and its cabin looks very spacious.

“The future should look like the future,” Musk said. 

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20:09 PT – “Our autonomous future is here,” Musk said. He also noted that the attendees of the event would have an extended experience with the Cybercab, since the demonstration rides are pretty long. 

Musk also announced that the Cybercab will not have a NACS plug. It will use inductive charging instead. 

20:06 PT – Elon Musk reiterated that self-driving cars will be a lot safer than humans, because AI and Vision never gets distracted, or drinks. He reiterated the idea that all Teslas today will be capable for unsupervised FSD. 

20:05 PT – Elon Musk noted that Tesla expects Unsupervised FSD by next year in Texas and California. “We’ll make this vehicle in very, very high volume,” Musk said, though customers can already experience the Robotaxi experience with the self-driving Model 3 and Model Y. 

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Cybercab production is expected before 2027.

20:03 PT – The cost of autonomous transport would be so low, you can think of it as individualized mass transit, Musk said. It’s premium point to point transportation. 

Elon Musk also confirms that the Cybercab can be bought for personal use. “We expect its cost to be below $30,000. I think it will be a glorious future,” Musk said

20:00 PT – Musk notes that today’s transportation kinda sucks. It’s dirty and crowded and exhausting. Especially if you have to drive. If you have a Tesla, it’s a lot better due to FSD (Supervised). 

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“We’ll move from Supervised Full Self-Driving to Unsupervised Full Self-Driving,” Musk said. He also highlighted that cars tend to cost too much, especially if one were to consider that cars on average tend to get used just 10 out of 170 hours per week. An autonomous car can then be used about five times as much.

“With autonomy, you’ll get your time back,” Musk said, noting that autonomous cars will be ten times safer than human drivers.

19:58 PT – Elon welcomes everyone to the “We, Robot” party. He calls the Robotaxi the “Cybercab.” There’s 20 more in the event. 

“The vehicles are autonomous. No drivers. “We have 50 fully autonomous cars tonight,” Musk said. Driverless Model Ys are in the area as well. “I hope this goes well. We’ll find out,” Elon Musk joked.

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19:54 PT – Elon Musk enters the stage. The Robotaxi is here! It is definitely Cybertruck-inspired. 

19:53 PT – Ok, the event’s starting. Tesla just posted a disclaimer/disclosure. That’s new. Franz is taking the stage. “We’re here to experience a future that’s closer than you think,” Franz said.

19:45 PT – Nope, still waiting. X live viewers are now up to 2.3 million and YouTube’s livestream is up to 107k now though.

19:44 PT – Ok, the music has stopped in the livestream. Perhaps the event is starting now. 

19:41 PT – Elon Musk’s kids have chosen this opportunity to play in front of the stage. They seem to be having tons of fun.

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19:38 PT – Elon Musk has confirmed that the attendee’s medical emergency has been addressed. The event will start shortly.

19:31 PT – Elon Musk seems ready, if any.

19:30 PT – Looks like the medical emergency is over. The attendee is reportedly back on their feet, and medics are now clearing out.

19:24 PT – Elon Musk has confirmed that Tesla is taking care of the attendee who had a medical emergency before officially starting the event. 

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19:21 PT – Unfortunately, someone seems to have passed out. Emergency responders are catering to the attendee. Hope the attendee is alright.

19:18 PT – The X livestream now has 1.1 million viewers. 105k on YouTube.

19:15 PT – The event is now 15 minutes late. This is not very surprising since Tesla tends to start its events late. The anticipation is notable, though. In the event’s livestream, 882k are tuned in on X and another 101k are tuned in to YouTube.

19:13 PT – Thanks so much for the shoutout Steve! You rock!

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19:10 PT – Now there are two helicopters hovering overhead!

19:08 PT – The Musk family are here to support Elon. Hello there, Kimbal and Tosca! Mom Maye Musk is here too.

19:03 PT – If the Cybertruck unveiling gave “Blade Runner” vibes, the Robotaxi event is definitely giving “Westworld” vibes. Futuristic, but not dystopian. I personally prefer it.

19:00 PT – The livestream is live! Let’s go! On the other hand, these graphics are starting to become a standard for Tesla events.

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18:59 PT – One minute to go, everyone!

18:58 PT – There will most definitely be demonstration rides tonight, as per Elon Musk.

18:56 PT – Tesla sure knows how to entertain its guests. Good vibes all around.

18:54 PT – Tesla set up its stage behind a road. Attendees speculate that this road may be where the Robotaxi will come out.

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18:50 PT – Tesla knows what it’s doing. We haven’t seen a party like this in a while. Last nine minutes!

18:46 PT – Tesla is LOCKED IN on this event. So. Much. Attention. To. Detail.

18:45 PT – It’s 15 minutes before the remarks at “We, Robot” are expected to start, and the energy is positively electric. Unveiling the Robotaxi at Warner Brothers Studios Burbank may have been a genius move, because the vibe here is real.

Check out the YouTube livestream of the event below.

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Don’t hesitate to contact us with news tips. Just send a message to simon@teslarati.com to give us a heads up.

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Simon is an experienced automotive reporter with a passion for electric cars and clean energy. Fascinated by the world envisioned by Elon Musk, he hopes to make it to Mars (at least as a tourist) someday. For stories or tips--or even to just say a simple hello--send a message to his email, simon@teslarati.com or his handle on X, @ResidentSponge.

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Tesla Model Y prices just went up for the first time in two years

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16 hours ago

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May 16, 2026

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Credit: Tesla Asia | X

Tesla just raised Model Y prices for the first time in two years, with the largest increase being $1,000.

The move signals shifting dynamics in the competitive electric vehicle market as the company continues to work on balancing demand, profitability, and accessibility.

The new pricing affects premium trims while leaving entry-level options unchanged. The Model Y Premium Rear-Wheel Drive (RWD) now starts at $45,990, a $1,000 increase.

The Model Y Premium All-Wheel Drive (AWD)—previously referred to in the post as simply “Model Y AWD”—rises to $49,990, also up $1,000. The top-tier Model Y Performance sees a more modest $500 bump, bringing its starting price to $57,990.

Base models remain untouched to preserve affordability. The entry-level Model Y RWD holds steady at $39,990, and the base Model Y AWD stays at $41,990. This selective approach keeps the crossover accessible for budget-conscious buyers while extracting more revenue from higher-margin configurations.

After years of aggressive price cuts to stimulate volume amid slowing EV adoption and rising competition from rivals like BYD, Ford, and GM, Tesla appears confident in underlying demand. Recent lineup refreshes for the 2026 Model Y, including refreshed styling and efficiency gains, have helped maintain its status as America’s best-selling EV.

By protecting base prices, Tesla avoids alienating price-sensitive customers while improving margins on the more popular variants.

Tesla Model Y ownership review after six months: What I love and what I don’t

For consumers, the changes are relatively modest—under 3% on affected trims—and still position the Model Y competitively against gas-powered SUVs in the same class. Federal tax credits and potential state incentives may further offset costs for eligible buyers.

This marks a subtle but notable shift from the deep discounting era that defined much of 2024 and 2025. As the EV market matures into 2026, Tesla’s pricing strategy will be closely watched for clues about production ramps, new variants like the rumored longer-wheelbase Model Y, and broader profitability goals.

In short, today’s adjustment reflects a company that remains dominant yet pragmatic—willing to test higher pricing where demand supports it. It is unlikely to deter consumers from choosing other options.

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Elon Musk

Elon Musk explains why he cannot be fired from SpaceX

Published

16 hours ago

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May 16, 2026

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Credit: SpaceX

Elon Musk cannot be fired from SpaceX, and there’s a reason for that.

In a blunt post on X on Friday, Elon Musk confirmed plans to structurally shield his leadership at SpaceX, ensuring he cannot be fired while tying a potential trillion-dollar compensation package to the company’s long-term goal of establishing a self-sustaining colony on Mars.

The revelation stems from a Financial Times report detailing SpaceX’s intention to restructure its governance and compensation framework. The moves are designed to protect Musk’s control and align his incentives with the company’s founding mission rather than short-term financial pressures. Musk’s reply left no ambiguity:

“Yes, I need to make sure SpaceX stays focused on making life multiplanetary and extending consciousness to the stars, not pandering to someone’s bullshit quarterly earnings bonus!”

He added that success in this “absurdly difficult goal” would generate value “many orders of magnitude more than the economy of Earth,” though he cautioned that the journey will not be smooth. “Don’t expect entirely smooth sailing along the way,” Musk wrote.

The strategy reflects Musk’s deep concerns about how public-market expectations could derail SpaceX’s core objective. Founded in 2002, SpaceX has repeatedly stated its purpose is to reduce the cost of space travel and ultimately make humanity a multiplanetary species.

Unlike Tesla, which went public in 2010 and has faced repeated battles over Musk’s compensation and board influence, SpaceX remains privately held. Musk has long resisted taking the rocket company public precisely to avoid the quarterly earnings treadmill that forces most CEOs to prioritize short-term stock performance over ambitious, high-risk projects.

By embedding protections against his removal and linking any outsized pay package to verifiable milestones—such as a functioning Mars colony—SpaceX aims to insulate its leadership from activist investors or board members who might demand faster profits or safer bets.

SpaceX Board has set a Mars bonus for Elon Musk

Musk has referenced past experiences, including his ouster from OpenAI and shareholder lawsuits at Tesla, as cautionary tales. In those cases, he argued, external pressures risked diluting the original vision.

Critics may view the arrangement as excessive, especially given Musk’s already substantial voting power and wealth. Supporters, however, argue it is a necessary safeguard for a company pursuing goals measured in decades rather than quarters. Achieving a Mars colony would require sustained investment in Starship development, orbital refueling, life-support systems, and in-situ resource utilization—technologies that may deliver no immediate financial return.

Musk’s post underscores a broader philosophical point: true breakthrough innovation often demands tolerance for volatility and a willingness to ignore conventional business wisdom. As SpaceX prepares for increasingly ambitious Starship test flights and eventual crewed missions, the new governance structure signals that the company’s North Star remains unchanged—humanity’s expansion beyond Earth.

Whether the trillion-dollar package materializes depends on execution, but Musk’s message is clear: SpaceX exists to reach the stars, not to chase the next earnings beat. For investors or employees who share that vision, the protections are not a perk—they are a prerequisite for success.

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Tesla discloses two Robotaxi crashes to NHTSA

Newly unredacted data filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reveals the two incidents. 

Published

16 hours ago

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May 16, 2026

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Tesla has disclosed information on two low-speed crashes that occurred in Austin with its Robotaxi platform. These incidents occurred with teleoperators steering the vehicle, and there were no passengers in the car at the time they happened.

Newly unredacted data filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reveals the two incidents.

The first crash took place in July 2025, shortly after Tesla launched its nascent Robotaxi network in Austin. The ADS reportedly struggled to move forward while stopped on a street. A teleoperator assumed control, gradually accelerating and turning left toward the roadside. The vehicle then mounted the curb and struck a metal fence.

In the second incident, in January 2026, the ADS was traveling straight when the safety monitor requested navigation support. The teleoperator took over from a stop, continued forward, and collided with a temporary construction barricade at approximately 9 mph, scraping the front-left fender and tire.

Tesla Robotaxi service in Austin achieves monumental new accomplishment

Tesla has previously told lawmakers that teleoperators are authorized to pilot vehicles remotely—but only at speeds below 10 mph, as the only maneuvers they were approved to perform were repositioning in awkward areas.

“This capability enables Tesla to promptly move a vehicle that may be in a compromising position, thereby mitigating the need to wait for a first responder or Tesla field representative to manually recover the vehicle,” the company stated in filings earlier this year.

Before this week, Tesla redacted the NHTSA reports, but they decided to reveal all 17 Robotaxi incidents recorded since the launch in Austin last Summer. Most of the other crashes involved the Tesla being struck by other road users and were not caused by the self-driving suite itself.

There were other incidents, including two additional self-caused accidents involving the ADS clipping side mirrors on parked cars. In September 2025, one Robotaxi struck a dog that darted into the roadway (the dog escaped unharmed), while another made an unprotected left turn into a parking lot and hit a metal chain.

Although Waymo and Zoox have reported more total crashes, Tesla operates at a far smaller scale. The cautious pace reflects the company’s broader safety concerns; it has been very slow with the Robotaxi rollout to ensure the suite is ready for operation.

Last month, CEO Elon Musk acknowledged that “making sure things are completely safe” remains the primary bottleneck to expanding the network, describing the company’s approach as “very cautious.”

The unredacted filings arrive amid heightened regulatory scrutiny of autonomous vehicles. NHTSA recently closed a separate probe into Tesla’s Full Self-Driving software repeatedly striking parking-lot obstacles such as bollards and chains—a problem that also prompted a recall at Waymo last year.

Tesla Robotaxi has been a widely successful program in its early days of operation, and the transparency Tesla brings here is greatly appreciated. Incidents will happen, of course, but the honesty gives customers and regulators a sense of where Tesla is in terms of developing its self-driving and fully autonomous ride-hailing suite.

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