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Elon Musk chooses August 8 for Tesla Robotaxi launch: Here’s why

  • Elon Musk announced the launch date of the Tesla Robotaxi in China
  • The date was not picked randomly by the CEO of Tesla
  • Musk had two reasons for picking it

Published on May 19, 2024 at 12:15 PM (UTC+4)
by Daksh Chaudhary

Last updated on May 19, 2024 at 12:15 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by Siddharth Dudeja

Elon Musk announced the launch date of Tesla Robotaxi in China some time ago.

However, the date was not picked randomly by the Tesla CEO.

In fact, he had his reasons for specifically choosing August 8 as the launch date for their self-driving taxis in China.

READ MORE: Cybertruck debuts in China and the hype level there is off the charts

Whether it’s the futuristic Robotaxi or the Cybertruck with drive-by-wire technology, Tesla vehicles always stand out.

The question is, why did Elon Musk choose August 8 to launch Robotaxis in China?

There are basically two reasons for that.

Firstly, the number ‘8’ is considered lucky in China as it reflects prosperity and wealth.

Many significant events in China have been held on this date, and the best example is the Beijing Olympics.

Secondly, Elon Musk’s triplets were also born on this date.

Elon Musk replied to Michel de Guilhermier’s post on X, saying, “I partly chose August 8 because 8/8 is a lucky number in China and also because it’s the birthday of my triplets, who are now 17.”

China is a crucial market for Tesla.

From the official Robotaxi launch announcement to the establishment of a new battery plant, Tesla has rapidly expanded its presence in China.

In fact, Musk even canceled his planned trip to India recently and made an unplanned visit to China.

There, he met several high-ranking officials of the country, discussing the future of the car company there.

Elon Musk announces release date for Tesla Robotaxi

That said, making Robotaxi and other Tesla vehicles a success in China is not going to be easy.

The country is itself a hub for futuristic vehicles, such as XPeng flying taxis and autonomous cars from BYD and Li Auto.

Despite intense competition, Musk remains confident in the success of the Tesla Robotaxi.

Let’s see if the number ‘8’ brings good fortune and leads Tesla to great success in China.

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Meet Daksh: Not your typical pro, but definitely a pro at being fascinated by supercars, tech, and all things futuristic. When he's not nose-deep in work, catch him glued to anime screens or lost in the pages of a good book.