Robotaxis and Steakburgers: Why Steak 'n Shake’s Bet on Tesla Might Actually Make Sense

Let’s talk about something that sounds totally made up but is, in fact, very real: Steak 'n Shake wants to deliver your food in a Tesla Robotaxi.

No driver. No awkward small talk. Just a hot Frisco Melt rolling up to your curb in a futuristic capsule that looks like it came straight out of Black Mirror—but like, the optimistic episode.

And yeah, they tweeted it for all to see:👉 Steak 'n Shake on X

This isn’t just a weird brand stunt. It’s a real glimpse into what food delivery could look like. Fast-forward a few years, and this whole “Robotaxi-powered burger run” thing might not feel weird at all. It might be… the norm.

Wait, Why Would a Robotaxi Be Good for Food Delivery?

For starters: no humans required.

Think about that. No drivers. No tips. No handing cash through the window. No “sorry I’m outside” texts while you frantically throw on pants. Just your food, showing up, exactly when it’s supposed to. You step out, grab your bag from a sleek electric ride, and go back to watching The Bear in peace.

There’s a whole chunk of the population—introverts, neurodivergent folks, pandemic-rewired humans—who would love this. And let’s not kid ourselves: most people are already getting up to grab DoorDash from the porch anyway. Meeting your burger at the curb? Not that big a leap.

Plus, from a business angle, the math kinda works.

Drivers are expensive. Insurance, wages, tips, scheduling—it adds up. If you can replace that whole system with a robot that doesn’t eat fries off the top or stop for a vape break? That’s a huge win. For Steak 'n Shake, for the customer, and—yep—for Tesla.

Speaking of Tesla…

They rolled out the Cybercab (a.k.a. Robotaxi) at their October 2024 event. Fully autonomous. No steering wheel. No pedals. Just screens, doors, and vibes. Elon says Tesla’s aiming to make 2 million a year by 2027. Whether or not that happens? TBD. But the intent is clear.

Tesla isn’t just building cars anymore. They’re building infrastructure. Think Uber, but with no drivers. Think FedEx, but without the guy who chucks your box over the fence. These Robotaxis could serve as moving delivery hubs—burgers today, who-knows-what tomorrow.

And Steak 'n Shake isn’t the only one paying attention.

What About the USPTO Drama?

Alright, quick sidebar. Tesla tried to trademark “Robotaxi” and “Cybercab,” but the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office basically said “nah”—too generic, and the whole “Cyber” thing is already saturated.

That could slow things down, sure. Naming is branding, and branding is everything when you're trying to get corporate partners and franchisees on board. But let’s be honest: people aren’t ordering delivery because of the name. They’re ordering because it shows up fast, hot, and hassle-free.

Is This Really the Future?

Let’s put it this way: autonomous delivery isn’t just coming—it’s already here, in bits and pieces. You’ve seen the little sidewalk robots. You’ve seen the drones. This is just the next step, but way cooler-looking and way more scalable.

Will there be challenges? Obviously. Some cities might hate it. Some customers might still prefer a person. And sure, there's always going to be a tech hiccup here and there. But the overall trend? It's pointing in one direction: fewer people involved, more automation, and faster, cheaper service.

Bottom Line

Steak 'n Shake isn’t being weird. They’re being early. And in a world where margins are tight, customers are impatient, and everyone wants convenience without human interaction, this actually makes a ton of sense.

Tesla brings the tech. Steak 'n Shake brings the burgers. The result? A greasy, glorious glimpse of the future—and honestly, we're kinda here for it.