Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and a well-known supporter of Dogecoin, has once again stirred emotions in the DOGE community. During the presentation of Tesla’s fresh autonomous vehicle, “Cybercab”, a Shiba Inu – a breed synonymous with Dogecoin – was prominently featured, sending DOGE enthusiasts into a frenzy.
Dogecoin community reaction
The official Dogecoin account on X (formerly Twitter) addressed Musk directly, calling him “Shiba Inu taxi.” This subtle inclusion sparked widespread speculation about Tesla’s potential plans to integrate Dogecoin into its payment systems.
Hey @elonmusk Is this a Shiba Inur taxi? pic.twitter.com/ihfktgc4ds
— Dogecoin (@dogecoin) October 11, 2024
Prominent members of the Dogecoin community went to X to express their excitement. DogeDesigner (@cb_doge), with whom Musk often collaborates, he exclaimed: “Wait, did Elon just say we can buy a Tesla Cybercab with Dogecoin? He said, “You can buy one of these” just as Doge showed up in the cybertaxi!”
Another influential figure in the DOGE community, Sir Doge of the Coin (@dogeofficialceo), noted the importance of the moment: “Tesla featured a Shiba Inu in its Robotaxi video.” Community member Đoge420 (@dogecoine420) it happened again speculation, questioning whether DOGE would be accepted as payment for a fresh vehicle. “Wait, did Elon just say we can buy a Tesla Cybercab with Dogecoin? He said, “You can buy one” just as Doge showed up in the cybertaxi!” she wrote.
Nevertheless, Astro (@Astro1062) highlighted the enigmatic nature of Tesla’s announcement: “Zero information from Tesla about how you will pay for Cybercab rides, as it may not be available until 2026. Zero information from X about XPayments and zero information from Starlink about their cooperation with Dogecoin. It’s too tranquil.”
Tesla’s fresh Cyber Taxi
Elon Musk showed off the Cybercab during a presentation on a Hollywood movie set, and then arrived in the vehicle himself. He argued that in most cases cars “just do nothing,” but if they were autonomous they could be used five times more, maybe ten times more.
Cybercab is a two-seater vehicle with scissor doors, without a steering wheel or accelerator pedal, which emphasizes its fully autonomous capabilities. The interior follows the minimalist design of Tesla’s Model 3 and Model Y, with a enormous central touchscreen. It’s worth noting that Cybercab is designed for inductive, wireless charging, which eliminates the need for a time-honored charging connection.
While specific technical details such as range, battery size and charging speed were not revealed, Musk hinted at an ambitious production schedule. Production is expected to begin in 2026, and the vehicles are expected to cost less than $30,000. Musk plans to operate a fleet of autonomous Tesla taxis accessible through a dedicated app, with the goal of lowering transportation costs to $0.20 per mile, significantly lower than the average price of $1 per mile for city buses.
In addition to the Cybercab, Musk unveiled “Robovan,” an autonomous minibus that can carry up to 20 passengers. The event also highlighted progress in Tesla’s humanoid robot design, Optimus. A group of these human-like robots appeared, demonstrating their capabilities. According to Musk, his company has made great progress thanks to Optimus. He predicts that these robots will become an integral part of society, with an expected cost of $20,000 to $30,000.
Musk has long touted autonomous vehicles as a cornerstone of Tesla’s future, previously suggesting that Tesla owners could operate their cars as part of a robotxi network to generate income.
There is no price reaction for DOGE
While no official announcements have been made regarding Tesla’s acceptance of Dogecoin as payment for Cybercab or other services, the inclusion of the Shiba Inu mascot has reignited discussions about Tesla’s potential integration with the cryptocurrency. Musk’s history of influencing Dogecoin’s value through social media tips and recommendations adds weight to community speculation.
However, DOGE did not show any significant reaction. DOGE is up 1.4% in the last 24 hours, largely in line with overall cryptocurrency market sentiment. At the time of publication, Dogecoin was trading at $0.10845.
Featured image created with DALL.E, chart from TradingView.com
