Tesla starts testing robotaxis in Austin with no safety driver

Tesla has reached a significant milestone in its journey towards launching a fully autonomous Robotaxi service by allowing its vehicles to operate in Austin, Texas, without a human safety monitor. This move marks an important advancement for the company, which has been developing this service for several years. CEO Elon Musk has long claimed that Tesla's vehicles were only a software update away from achieving full autonomy. Now, as the company edges closer to offering a commercial Robotaxi service, it aims to challenge competitors like Waymo, which Musk recently asserted 'never really had a chance against Tesla.' With the safety monitors removed, scrutiny is expected to intensify, especially as Tesla prepares to provide rides in these empty vehicles. Since June, Tesla's test fleet has been involved in at least seven accidents, though details remain scarce due to the company's stringent redaction policies regarding reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Recently, videos surfaced on social media showing a vacant Tesla Model Y SUV, which Musk confirmed was part of their ongoing tests 'with no occupants.' While Tesla has not disclosed a timeline for offering rides without a safety monitor, a recent post on the company's X account hinted at a gradual rollout: 'Slowly, then all at once.' Tesla's head of AI, Ashok Elluswamy, commented on this development, saying, 'And so it begins!' Initially, Tesla began offering rides in Austin to selected influencers and customers in June, with an employee present in the passenger seat to take control if necessary. By September, these monitors had transitioned to the driver's seat. The company has since eliminated its waitlist and expanded its service area across much of the greater Austin region, although its fleet has remained relatively small, capped at around 25 to 30 vehicles. Musk has expressed ambitions for Tesla to operate its own fleet of Robotaxis, claiming in July that it could serve 'half of the population of the U.S.' by the end of the year. However, this prediction has since been moderated, with Musk suggesting in November that the Austin fleet would grow to approximately 60 vehicles. Tesla has also been testing a ride-hailing service in San Francisco, utilizing its advanced driver assistance technology. California's regulations require Tesla to obtain multiple permits for fully driverless rides, a hurdle Texas currently does not impose. Furthermore, Musk has previously discussed the possibility of allowing Tesla owners to add their vehicles to the Robotaxi fleet, claiming back in 2016 that all Tesla cars were equipped with the necessary hardware for future autonomy—a claim that has since faced scrutiny as the company evolves its technology. As Tesla continues to push the boundaries of autonomous vehicle technology, the coming months will be critical in determining the success of its Robotaxi aspirations.