Tesla Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA, ETR:TL0) gained over 3% in pre-market trading on Monday after CEO Elon Musk said the company's robotaxi would be unveiled in August.
“Tesla Robotaxi unveil on 8/8,” Musk wrote on X, providing news at a the self-driving vehicle that has long been hinted at.
Musk had previously displayed a vehicle shrouded in fabric while unveiling the company’s latest 'master plan' during a 2023 event.
Tesla Robotaxi unveil on 8/8
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 5, 2024
He had speculated years earlier that Tesla owners could earn money by sending their autonomous cars off to transport other passengers.
“You will also be able to add your car to the Tesla shared fleet just by tapping a button on the Tesla phone app,” he said in 2016.
Musk’s latest announcement came as Reuters reported on Friday that Tesla had scrapped plans to develop a 'Model 2' affordable electric vehicle.
This had been expected to be priced at US$25,000, to rival cheaper models coming from the likes of China, with Musk said to have told employees he’d rather focus on autonomous technology instead.
Shares jumped 3.3% to US$ 170.40 before the markets opened.