Tesla Plans Robotaxi Launch Event at Warner Bros. Studio

Tesla to unveil its robotaxi at Warner Bros. movie studio in October

The electric vehicle company is targeting a reveal of the purpose-built robotaxi on Oct. 10 at the Burbank, California, facility, the people said, asking not to be identified because the information is private. The 110-acre lot holds 29 sound stages and has hosted famous productions, from Batman movies to the television show Friends. Tesla Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk didn't respond to requests for comment. A spokesperson for Warner Bros. didn't immediately comment. Musk has been prioritizing autonomy and artificial intelligence, shifting away from Tesla's core business of selling EVs to consumers. The Austin-based company is also creating a proprietary ride-hailing app powered by a fleet of both purpose-built robotaxis and consumer cars that don't require a human driver. The CEO may give more details about the technology at the LA event. Tesla moved its headquarters to Austin in December 2021 but its design studio remains in Hawthorne, California. In 2016, Musk also used Hollywood studio space when he demonstrated Tesla's solar roof product on the set of Desperate Housewives. Tesla delayed the timing of the robotaxi event, initially scheduled for Aug. 8, due to design change requests by Musk, Bloomberg reported in July. The company also needed more time to create prototypes to demonstrate, people familiar with the matter said.

Tesla Considers Warner Bros Studio For Highly Anticipated Robotaxi Unveiling Event: Report - Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA)

Tesla Inc TSLA is reportedly looking to hold its robotaxi unveiling event at Warner Bros. Discovery's WBD movie studio in Burbank, California. What Happened: The news was first reported by Bloomberg, citing people familiar with the matter. The 110-acre lot has hosted famous productions such as Batman movies, the report noted. Benzinga reached out to both Tesla and Warner Bros for confirmation but is yet to receive a response. The robotaxi unveiling event was initially slated for Aug. 8. The company delayed it to Oct.10 to make a few important changes aimed at improving the robotaxi and to give itself time to prepare a "couple of other things" to showcase at the event, company CEO Elon Musk said last month. Why It Matters: Musk is currently looking to convert Tesla from an EV manufacturer to an AI and robotics company with an increased focus on developing autonomous driving technology and humanoid robots. While the unveiling event is slated for October, it is "difficult" to say when the first unsupervised Tesla robotaxi ride would be, Musk said during Tesla's second-quarter earnings call in July. However, the CEO, known for ambitious timelines, hinted at the possibility of it happening by the end of 2024. "It's difficult, obviously, my predictions on this have been overly optimistic in the past," Musk said. "...based on the current trend... you could do [it] unsupervised possibly by the end of this year. I would be shocked if we cannot do it next year." Check out more of Benzinga's Future Of Mobility coverage by following this link. Read Next: GM To Move BrightDrop Electric Vans Under The Chevrolet Brand Photo courtesy: Shutterstock Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs