Tesla CEO Elon Musk introduced the much-awaited Cybercab, an autonomous taxi priced below US$30,000, at the We, Robot event in Burbank, California.

The vehicle discards steering wheels and pedals and features inductive charging technology.

Musk announced that production is slated to begin before 2027.

He proposed a model where Cybercab owners can utilize their vehicles as taxis, similar to ride-share services.

However, analysts remain skeptical due to a history of unmet expectations surrounding full self-driving technology.

This announcement coincides with a class-action lawsuit from Tesla owners reporting delays on promised features.

Regulatory scrutiny surrounding Tesla’s autonomous driving features has intensified, particularly following incidents related to its autopilot functionality.