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AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Tesla will build a custom vehicle for use as a robotaxis and will begin making three new vehicles next year, CEO Elon Musk told fans at a party celebrating the opening of a Texas factory.
Musk didn’t elaborate, except to say that the robotax “will look pretty futuristic.” He also said that Tesla will begin manufacturing the Cybertruck pickup truck at its new factory near Austin, Texas, next year. He said he would start building a new Roadster and an electric semi after that.
He made the statement Thursday night at the “Cyber Rodeo in Giga Texas,” a party that invited thousands of guests at Tesla’s new billion-dollar factory.
As many as 15,000 people were expected to attend the special event, which was held to celebrate the opening of the new factory in Travis County, which also serves as the company’s new headquarters following its relocation from California.
At the event, which was streamed live on YouTube Thursday night, Musk said that Tesla is delivering the first Model Y small SUVs built at the new factory, which could produce half a million SUVs a year.
Tesla and Musk have often missed their goals to start building vehicles. In 2019, it promised a fleet of autonomous robotaxes would hit the road the following year, but the company’s “Full Self-Driving” software is still being tested on public roads by selected Tesla owners.
The company is the largest electric vehicle manufacturer in the United States and the world.
Musk said this year it will be about expanding the Austin factory and a new factory in Germany. He also said that the company could start making a robot in 2023. “There will be a huge wave of new products next year,” he told the crowd on Thursday night.
A permit issued by the county said the event includes interactive tours, food, alcohol and live entertainment. However, the event was forbidden to the general public and the news media.
Musk said the Austin-area facility will employ up to 10,000 workers.
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