Tesla autonomous ‘robotaxi’ to be unveiled in August – Elon Musk

Tesla plans to unveil its new 'robotaxi' – an autonomous compact car without a steering wheel or pedals – on 8 August 2024, company CEO Elon Musk has announced.

No other details were announced in Musk's post on social media platform X (formally Twitter) – which he owns – however the futuristic autonomous Tesla is expected to use a "next-generation" architecture and assembly line promising much lower production costs.

It follows hours after a report from respected news agency Reuters claiming the US electric-car giant has scrapped plans for a conventional sibling to the robotaxi – with a steering wheel and pedals – due in late 2025.

In an X post, Musk accused Reuters of "lying (again)," without going into any detail about what was incorrect in the report, or how the news agency was allegedly attempting to deceive its readers.

For more details on the bombshell change of plans, click here to read our separate story.

Tesla stock rose approximately 4 per cent in the 30 minutes following the robotaxi announcement ($US165 before and $US172 after) – after declining in the wake of the Reuters report.

While there are documented examples of fully autonomous vehicles from brands like Ford and Mercedes-Benz undergoing testing in Australia, there is no formal legal framework for the public sale of fully autonomous vehicles in Australia.

The current legislation – the National Land Transport Technology Action Plan, managed by the Federal Government's Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts – does not have a regulated position on privately-operated autonomous vehicles.

The regulations and laws surrounding autonomous vehicles in Australia are under review, with the Automated Vehicle Safety Law previously noted on the DOI website as being anticipated to commence in 2026.

Cars sold by Tesla and other brands are available with safety features which can maintain a set speed, centre a vehicle within its lane, and brake for hazards, but these systems are only intended to assist the driver, who remains in physical – and legal – control of the car.