Tesla launches self-driving robotaxis in Austin, Texas
The rides are being offered for a flat fee of $US4.20 ($A6.50), Musk said on X. Tesla investor and social media personality Sawyer Merritt posted videos on X showing him ordering, getting picked up and taking a ride to a nearby bar and restaurant using a Tesla robotaxi app.
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News.com.au
3 hours ago
- News.com.au
Tesla launches long-discussed robotaxi service
Tesla began offering robotaxi services Sunday in the US city of Austin, Texas, an initial step that Elon Musk's backers believe could lead to the company's next growth wave. "Super congratulations to the @Tesla_AI software & chip design teams on a successful @Robotaxi launch!!" Musk posted on the X platform that he owns. "Culmination of a decade of hard work." The kickoff -- which comes as Musk refocuses on his business ventures following a contentious stint in Donald Trump's administration -- will employ the Model Y sport utility vehicle rather than Tesla's much-touted Cybercab, which is still under development. The long-awaited launch follows the dramatic meltdown earlier this month in relations between the US president and the world's richest person, which saw a cascade of bitter attacks from both men. Since then, Musk has publicly expressed regret for some of his statements, while his company's Texas operation has readied the Austin push -- part of a major drive on autonomous technology and artificial intelligence that Tesla believes will yield huge profits. Wedbush analyst Daniel Ives said autonomous technology could be a catalyst for potentially $1 trillion or more in additional market value. "There are countless skeptics of the Tesla robotaxi vision with many bears thinking this day would never come," said Ives, who predicted Trump's administration would clear roadblocks for Tesla and pivot from the recent "soap opera." - Business-friendly Texas - One of the robotaxi's self-described first users was Tesla fan Herbert Ong, who livestreamed his ride Sunday in a red vehicle that included a person in the passenger seat monitoring the trip for operational safety. The unveiling in the Texas state capital comes amid questions about how Tesla will try to overcome criticism of Musk's activities for Trump. Tesla saw profits plunge 71 percent in the first quarter following poor sales in several markets. In picking Austin for the debut of the autonomous vehicle (AV) service, Musk is opting for a US state known for its business-friendly approach to regulation. "Texas law allows for AV testing and operations on Texas roadways as long as they meet the same safety and insurance requirements as every other vehicle on the road," the Texas Department of Transportation told AFP. The Texas legislature this year passed a bill requiring prior authorization from the state's Department of Motor Vehicles before companies can operate on a public street without human drivers, a group of Democratic lawmakers said in a June 18 letter to Tesla. Citing the enhanced system, the lawmakers asked Tesla to delay testing until after the law takes effect on September 1. The lawmakers asked for "detailed information demonstrating that Tesla will be compliant with the new law" should the company choose to proceed. - Starting slow - Musk had initially planned the launch for June 12, before pushing back, saying he was being "super paranoid" about safety. "We want to deliberately take it slow," Musk said May 20 on CNBC, telling the network that Tesla would probably only operate 10 autonomous vehicles the first week. But that number will rise to perhaps 1,000 "within a few months," Musk added. "And then we will expand to other cities... San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Antonio." The service will be offered from 6:00 am until midnight and will be available to "early access" users on an invitation-only basis in a geofenced area, Sawyer Merritt, who owns a Tesla, said Friday on X. He added that the company had given him permission to release the information. Musk last fall unveiled the Cybercab, which has no steering wheel or pedals. Its production is not expected to begin until 2026. Tesla's robotaxi launch comes well after Waymo's offering of commercial robotaxi service. The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in October 2024 opened a probe into Tesla's Full Self-Driving software after receiving four reports of crashes. Last month the agency asked Tesla for additional information on its technology in light of the Austin launch. But the NHTSA told AFP it does not "pre-approve" new technologies. "Rather, manufacturers certify that each vehicle meets NHTSA's rigorous safety standards," it said.
The Advertiser
4 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Tesla launches self-driving robotaxis in Austin, Texas
Tesla has deployed a small group of self-driving taxis picking up paying passengers in Texas, with chief Elon Musk announcing the "robotaxi launch" and social media influencers posting videos of their first rides. Musk called the moment the "culmination of a decade of hard work" in a post on his social media platform X and noted "the AI chip and software teams were built from scratch within Tesla". Teslas were spotted in an Austin neighbourhood called South Congress with no one in the driver's seat but one person in the passenger seat. The automaker planned a small trial with about 10 vehicles and front-seat riders acting as "safety monitors", though it remained unclear how much control they had over the vehicles. In recent days, the automaker sent invites to a select group of influencers for a carefully monitored robotaxi trial in a limited zone. The rides are being offered for a flat fee of $US4.20 ($A6.50), Musk said on X. Tesla investor and social media personality Sawyer Merritt posted videos on X showing him ordering, getting picked up and taking a ride to a nearby bar and restaurant using a Tesla robotaxi app. If Tesla succeeds with the small deployment, it still faces major challenges in delivering on Musk's promises to scale up quickly in Austin and other cities, industry experts say. It could take years or decades for Tesla and self-driving rivals, such as Alphabet's Waymo, to fully develop a robotaxi industry, said Philip Koopman, a Carnegie Mellon University computer-engineering professor with expertise in autonomous-vehicle technology. A successful Austin trial for Tesla, he said, would be "the end of the beginning - not the beginning of the end". Most of Tesla's sky-high stock value now rests on its ability to deliver robotaxis and humanoid robots, according to many industry analysts. Tesla is by far the world's most valuable automaker. The Tesla robotaxi rollout comes after more than a decade of Musk's unfulfilled promises to deliver self-driving Teslas. Musk has said Tesla would be "super paranoid" about robotaxi safety in Austin, including operating in limited areas. The service in Austin will have other restrictions as well. Tesla plans to avoid bad weather, difficult intersections, and will not carry anyone below age 18. Tesla has deployed a small group of self-driving taxis picking up paying passengers in Texas, with chief Elon Musk announcing the "robotaxi launch" and social media influencers posting videos of their first rides. Musk called the moment the "culmination of a decade of hard work" in a post on his social media platform X and noted "the AI chip and software teams were built from scratch within Tesla". Teslas were spotted in an Austin neighbourhood called South Congress with no one in the driver's seat but one person in the passenger seat. The automaker planned a small trial with about 10 vehicles and front-seat riders acting as "safety monitors", though it remained unclear how much control they had over the vehicles. In recent days, the automaker sent invites to a select group of influencers for a carefully monitored robotaxi trial in a limited zone. The rides are being offered for a flat fee of $US4.20 ($A6.50), Musk said on X. Tesla investor and social media personality Sawyer Merritt posted videos on X showing him ordering, getting picked up and taking a ride to a nearby bar and restaurant using a Tesla robotaxi app. If Tesla succeeds with the small deployment, it still faces major challenges in delivering on Musk's promises to scale up quickly in Austin and other cities, industry experts say. It could take years or decades for Tesla and self-driving rivals, such as Alphabet's Waymo, to fully develop a robotaxi industry, said Philip Koopman, a Carnegie Mellon University computer-engineering professor with expertise in autonomous-vehicle technology. A successful Austin trial for Tesla, he said, would be "the end of the beginning - not the beginning of the end". Most of Tesla's sky-high stock value now rests on its ability to deliver robotaxis and humanoid robots, according to many industry analysts. Tesla is by far the world's most valuable automaker. The Tesla robotaxi rollout comes after more than a decade of Musk's unfulfilled promises to deliver self-driving Teslas. Musk has said Tesla would be "super paranoid" about robotaxi safety in Austin, including operating in limited areas. The service in Austin will have other restrictions as well. Tesla plans to avoid bad weather, difficult intersections, and will not carry anyone below age 18. Tesla has deployed a small group of self-driving taxis picking up paying passengers in Texas, with chief Elon Musk announcing the "robotaxi launch" and social media influencers posting videos of their first rides. Musk called the moment the "culmination of a decade of hard work" in a post on his social media platform X and noted "the AI chip and software teams were built from scratch within Tesla". Teslas were spotted in an Austin neighbourhood called South Congress with no one in the driver's seat but one person in the passenger seat. The automaker planned a small trial with about 10 vehicles and front-seat riders acting as "safety monitors", though it remained unclear how much control they had over the vehicles. In recent days, the automaker sent invites to a select group of influencers for a carefully monitored robotaxi trial in a limited zone. The rides are being offered for a flat fee of $US4.20 ($A6.50), Musk said on X. Tesla investor and social media personality Sawyer Merritt posted videos on X showing him ordering, getting picked up and taking a ride to a nearby bar and restaurant using a Tesla robotaxi app. If Tesla succeeds with the small deployment, it still faces major challenges in delivering on Musk's promises to scale up quickly in Austin and other cities, industry experts say. It could take years or decades for Tesla and self-driving rivals, such as Alphabet's Waymo, to fully develop a robotaxi industry, said Philip Koopman, a Carnegie Mellon University computer-engineering professor with expertise in autonomous-vehicle technology. A successful Austin trial for Tesla, he said, would be "the end of the beginning - not the beginning of the end". Most of Tesla's sky-high stock value now rests on its ability to deliver robotaxis and humanoid robots, according to many industry analysts. Tesla is by far the world's most valuable automaker. The Tesla robotaxi rollout comes after more than a decade of Musk's unfulfilled promises to deliver self-driving Teslas. Musk has said Tesla would be "super paranoid" about robotaxi safety in Austin, including operating in limited areas. The service in Austin will have other restrictions as well. Tesla plans to avoid bad weather, difficult intersections, and will not carry anyone below age 18. Tesla has deployed a small group of self-driving taxis picking up paying passengers in Texas, with chief Elon Musk announcing the "robotaxi launch" and social media influencers posting videos of their first rides. Musk called the moment the "culmination of a decade of hard work" in a post on his social media platform X and noted "the AI chip and software teams were built from scratch within Tesla". Teslas were spotted in an Austin neighbourhood called South Congress with no one in the driver's seat but one person in the passenger seat. The automaker planned a small trial with about 10 vehicles and front-seat riders acting as "safety monitors", though it remained unclear how much control they had over the vehicles. In recent days, the automaker sent invites to a select group of influencers for a carefully monitored robotaxi trial in a limited zone. The rides are being offered for a flat fee of $US4.20 ($A6.50), Musk said on X. Tesla investor and social media personality Sawyer Merritt posted videos on X showing him ordering, getting picked up and taking a ride to a nearby bar and restaurant using a Tesla robotaxi app. If Tesla succeeds with the small deployment, it still faces major challenges in delivering on Musk's promises to scale up quickly in Austin and other cities, industry experts say. It could take years or decades for Tesla and self-driving rivals, such as Alphabet's Waymo, to fully develop a robotaxi industry, said Philip Koopman, a Carnegie Mellon University computer-engineering professor with expertise in autonomous-vehicle technology. A successful Austin trial for Tesla, he said, would be "the end of the beginning - not the beginning of the end". Most of Tesla's sky-high stock value now rests on its ability to deliver robotaxis and humanoid robots, according to many industry analysts. Tesla is by far the world's most valuable automaker. The Tesla robotaxi rollout comes after more than a decade of Musk's unfulfilled promises to deliver self-driving Teslas. Musk has said Tesla would be "super paranoid" about robotaxi safety in Austin, including operating in limited areas. The service in Austin will have other restrictions as well. Tesla plans to avoid bad weather, difficult intersections, and will not carry anyone below age 18.
Canberra Times
5 hours ago
- Canberra Times
Tesla launches self-driving robotaxis in Austin, Texas
The rides are being offered for a flat fee of $US4.20 ($A6.50), Musk said on X. Tesla investor and social media personality Sawyer Merritt posted videos on X showing him ordering, getting picked up and taking a ride to a nearby bar and restaurant using a Tesla robotaxi app.
