Robotaxis: how close is a driverless future?

Earlier this month, Elon Musk unveiled a new autonomous taxi, designed by his car company Tesla. Musk promises that his Cybercab, a two-seater car without a steering wheel or pedals, will be on sale before 2027. But how realistic is this vision? With driverless technology still under development, how long will it be until autonomous vehicles become part of everyday life? Hosts: Tom Lee-Devlin, Mike Bird and Alice Fulwood. Guests: Simon Wright, industry editor at The Economist; Gavin Jackson, CEO of driverless software company OXA; Holly Watson Nall, an engineer at Oxa; and Kersten Heineke, head of the McKinsey Centre for Future Mobility. Transcripts of our podcasts are available via economist.com/podcasts. Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to Economist Podcasts+. For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page or watch our video explaining how to link your account.