Elon Musk has finally pulled the covers off the long-awaited autonomous Robotaxi  or as some have dubbed it, the “Cybercab”  at a glitzy event in Los Angeles. This could be a glimpse into the future of transportation, and it's about as bold as you'd expect.

First impressions? Well, it looks like a mash-up between a Tesla Cybertruck and a VW XL1 (remember that ultra-efficient concept from yesteryear?). No steering wheel, no pedals just two seats, butterfly doors, and a colossal 20inch touchscreen smack in the middle of the dash. Oh, and a couple of cup holders for good measure. The sleek, angular design, complete with flat surfaces and full-width light bars, bears an unmistakable resemblance to the Cybertruck, tying it into Tesla’s unmistakable aesthetic.

But what’s this all about? According to Musk, this is his vision of a future where the 12 days we spend every year behind the wheel can be reclaimed for, well, whatever you fancy catching up on work, binge-watching a series, or scrolling endlessly through social media. He also touts the safety benefits. "The Cybercab can see in all directions and never gets tired," Musk boasted, with production slated to ramp up by 2026 and prices kicking off around $30,000.

But here’s the kicker: owning one of these privately? You’re missing the point. The Robotaxi is designed to earn its keep, ferrying passengers around while you sleep or work, when your car would otherwise be sitting idle in the driveway. Musk envisions a world where Uber drivers (or any budding entrepreneur) could own a fleet of these and manage them like a shepherd tending a flock. No details yet on the ride-hailing app or platform they’ll use, though – that’s still a mystery.

Arguably, the Robotaxi wasn't the only significant announcement at the event. Starting next year, in Texas and California, Tesla Model 3 and Model Y vehicles equipped with Full Self-Driving (FSD) will be allowed to operate entirely unsupervised. A pretty decent payoff for anyone who shelled out the $5k for the FSD option. But beyond that, it marks a watershed moment – Tesla's entire fleet of vehicles, using only their cameras and computing power, will be able to roam the streets autonomously. Owners will have the choice to drive themselves, be driven, or let their Teslas go out and earn a bit of extra cash.

This is the bold, brash, and autonomous future Musk’s been talking about for years – and it just got a lot more real.