Tesla‘s highly anticipated Robotaxi event, initially teased for August 8, faces delays as CEO Elon Musk confirms adjustments to the vehicle’s front design.
Musk, corroborating Bloomberg’s report, acknowledged that the unveiling scheduled for August might not proceed as planned. In a promotional video aimed at persuading shareholders to endorse his pay package, glimpses of the Robotaxi’s potential design were briefly showcased.
Notably, the video revealed a distinctive front or rear diffuser reminiscent of the Cybertruck‘s angular aesthetics, hinting at Tesla’s bold design direction. According to Walter Isaacson’s biography of Musk, the CEO was drawn to the futuristic appeal of Tesla’s Model 2 concept built on the Robotaxi platform.
Requested what I think is an important design change to the front, and extra time allows us to show off a few other things
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 15, 2024
The promotional footage featured a wooden prototype labeled “NV93 vehicle package,” believed to be Tesla’s internal codename for its upcoming mass-market vehicle platform, the NV9X.
However, Musk recently hinted at a potential delay beyond August 8, citing a critical design revision that necessitates additional time. “We’ve requested an important design change to the front, and extra time allows us to showcase a few other innovations,” Musk commented in response to speculation about an October launch.
Sources familiar with Tesla’s internal discussions indicated that engineers were deliberating over final design elements, with Musk proposing a radical alteration that garnered immediate approval but could extend the timeline by up to two months.
