Tesla Robotaxi Milestone: "True Driverless" Hits the Road in Austin

Tesla has taken a key step in the commercialization of autonomous driving, starting to offer paid, safety-operator-free Robotaxi service in Austin, Texas, marking the automaker’s official entry into fully driverless operations. CEO Elon Musk announced on his social media platform X on Thursday: "Just launched Tesla Robotaxi service in Austin, with no safety supervisor in the car. Congratulations to the Tesla AI team!" This is the first time Tesla has allowed passengers to ride in its self-driving taxis without a human safety operator seated in the front. According to information posted by passengers on X, Tesla is charging for these driverless rides. There are currently trailing vehicles monitoring the operation of these driverless vehicles. Musk also took this opportunity to send out a recruitment signal to engineers and said that those interested in "solving real world AI problems" are welcome to join the Tesla AI team, which "might lead to AGI (Artificial General Intelligence)." Gradual Deployment Strategy Tesla AI lead Ashok Elluswamy stated that the company will adopt a gradual rollout approach. “We will start with a small number of unsupervised vehicles, operating alongside a wider Robotaxi fleet equipped with safety supervisors. Over time, the proportion of unsupervised vehicles will gradually increase.” Tesla launched its Robotaxi service in Austin last June, initially using a limited deployment model with a safety operator in the front passenger seat. The earliest riders were mainly internet influencers and select customers. In December last year, Tesla began testing Robotaxis in Austin without a front safety operator to prepare for this commercial launch. This deployment strategy is different from some competitors. Tesla competitors like Zoox and Waymo did not immediately begin charging when first deploying autonomous services. Tesla’s choice to implement a paid model from the outset demonstrates its confidence in the maturity of its technology and its intention to rapidly push forward commercialization. Risk Warning and Disclaimer The market involves risks; investment needs caution. This article does not constitute personal investment advice, nor does it take into account the specific investment objectives, financial situation, or needs of individual users. Users should consider whether any opinions, views, or conclusions in this article suit their specific circumstances. Anyone who invests accordingly does so at their own responsibility.