Tesla ‘Model 2’ Takes Shape - Forbes
🚗 Cybercab is the physical Model 2 under $30,000.
🔋 Ultra-efficient battery pack under 50 kWh with 165 Wh/mi range.
🏭 Simplified castings and unboxed process slash manufacturing costs.
🛠️ Drive-by-wire architecture allows easy retrofitting for consumer sales.
⚖️ Human-driven version acts as a volume release valve if regulations stall.
🚗 The Cybercab is identified as the physical manifestation of the rumored sub-$30,000 'Model 2' vehicle.
🔋 The platform features a tiny, ultra-efficient battery pack under 50 kWh with a certified range of 165 Wh/mi.
🏭 Manufacturing costs are slashed via simplified structural castings and an 'unboxed' process that eliminates thousands of parts.
🛠️ The vehicle uses drive-by-wire architecture, allowing easy retrofitting to add steering wheels for consumer sales.
📉 Adding a steering wheel transforms the autonomous robotaxi into a standard commuter car without major redesigns.
⚖️ Selling a human-driven version provides Tesla with a volume release valve if full autonomy regulations stall.
- Modular design combines autonomous fleet with consumer vehicle potential.
- Extreme efficiency via reduced battery size and fewer parts.
- Drive-by-wire architecture enables easy pivot between robotaxi and car.
- Human-driven alternative mitigates regulatory risk if autonomy delays.
- The Cybercab platform successfully combines autonomous fleet capabilities with consumer vehicle potential through modular design.
- Tesla has achieved extreme manufacturing efficiency by reducing the battery size and eliminating thousands of parts via an unboxed process.
- The drive-by-wire architecture offers significant flexibility, allowing Tesla to pivot between robotaxi and standard car production easily.
- This approach mitigates regulatory risk by providing a human-driven alternative if unsupervised autonomy faces delays.