I'd say driving your own car won't even be allowed in the future. The laws will be against it. Possibly the cars won't allow it either.

I wonder if his pivot has to do with the announced possible SpaceX merger. Under another government that wouldn't be allowed, but I don't think Trump would stand against it, so it just depends on if the two companies can work out the details.

At any rate, it's a good move. Even if the Optimus robot doesn't work out as he thinks it will, the other car companies will be catching up shortly and will be offering lower prices, so he has to do something.