Tesla's Autonomous Car Threatens Taxis and Driving Schools

Tesla's Cybercab Targets Taxis and Driving Schools: Revolution or Smoke?

The taxi and the driving school are facing tough competition. That is the promise of Tesla's Cybercab, the steer-wheel-less car presented as the next mobility revolution. If a vehicle can drive itself to pick you up, take your partner to work, and then operate as a paid service to recoup its cost, why would you need a driver's license? And why would you need a taxi?

But reality, as always, is tougher than marketing. Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) system costs 99 euros per month and, according to users, still fails in certain cities and requires supervision. Meanwhile, in Madrid, the transfer of a taxi license remains priced at 160,000 euros. A figure that doesn't crumble no matter how much the future is announced.

The Price of Transition

The gap between promise and price is vast. Proponents of disruption argue that a single autonomous car can replace several family vehicles, picking up different members at various times. And if the investment is to be recouped, the car can operate solely as an Uber, generating income while you sleep. The implication, according to this view, is profound: you could have half the cars in a city, and any of them at your disposal.

But skepticism also has its numbers. FSD, which currently costs 99 euros per month, could triple in price when it is truly functional. And current limitations—it works at night, but not reliably during the day in old town pedestrian zones—are reminders that the technology is still far from dependable.

Reasonable Skepticism

Some recall that in the 1980s, Muy Interesante magazine announced cures for cancer, domestic robots, and commercial space travel as imminent. And here we are again. The history of technological promises is full of announcements that never materialized, and the influencers now selling autonomous cars as if they were a toy do not help build confidence.

Meanwhile, the taxi drivers whose licenses sell for 160,000 euros and driving school students paying to learn how to drive do not seem in a hurry. The revolution, as almost always, takes longer than advertisers promise. Perhaps in two decades the autonomous car will be as common as the mobile phone. But until then, the paper license and driver's permit will continue to hold value.