A Tesla launch event tends to cause a hoopla. Fans crowd into an event space; loud electronic beats are the warm up act. Finally, the star himself, the ringmaster of this electric circus, CEO Elon Musk, emerges to a roar. There are demos, powerful verbs, and sometimes, a “one more thing,” a last-minute surprise product unveiling. Fans and investors the world over look on—and post—online.
\n\nBut for the road debut of the Cybercab, the driverless car that Tesla promises is not only the future of the company but also the global economy, an event in Austin came with no livestream. Invitees, many of them online Tesla influencers, were reportedly barred from posting about the event until hours after it started. And Musk wasn’t there at all.
\n\nIt was a somewhat peculiar start for the Cybercab, a matte gold two-seater first introduced in 2024. Now 45 of the vehicles, which do not have steering wheels or pedals, are registered to operate on Tesla’s robotaxi network in Texas. On Thursday night, after the news embargo lifted, the online influencers who attended the event began to post sanguine reviews and clips from their first Cybercab rides.
\n\nThe Cybercab is a make-or-break vehicle for…
Original source: https://www.wired.com/