Tesla Showcases Film of Autonomous Ride-Sharing Tests Overseen by FSD in Approaching Robotaxi Debut in Austin
Tesla's Robotaxi Service Makes Strides in Limited Testing
Tesla's autonomous driving technology, Full Self-Driving (FSD), is making significant strides as the company continues to test its Robotaxi service in select locations. The service, currently in a non-public, controlled testing phase, is being used to park newly-produced Model Ys autonomously at Giga Texas.
In Austin, Texas, and the San Francisco Bay Area, Tesla is operating a limited Robotaxi fleet with safety drivers present. In Austin, safety drivers are seated in the passenger seat, while in the San Francisco Bay Area, they are behind the wheel, ready to intervene if needed. Access to the service is invite-only, primarily given to Tesla influencers and investors.
Industry experts, such as Waymo’s founder, do not consider Tesla's current service a true Robotaxi since human safety operators remain in control. However, Tesla's CEO, Elon Musk, has mentioned plans to open the service to the public in Austin potentially soon, but retaining supervisors in the car is expected for the foreseeable future.
The Robotaxi service is also expanding to include vehicles owned by private Tesla owners. Tesla will allow these owners to enroll their vehicles in the Robotaxi program when they are not personally using them. The two-seater Cybercab, which has no steering wheel or pedals, is the backbone of the Robotaxi service.
The service is being used to develop and validate FSD networks, the mobile app, vehicle allocation, mission control, and remote assistance operations. Tesla has logged over 1500 trips and 15,000 miles on the road with the service. A driver is present behind the wheel during these rides, and passengers are able to control the trip from the touchscreen at the back of the vehicle.
FSD Supervised is already available on many Tesla cars for subscribers. A video shared by Tesla AI shows how the Robotaxi app works and passengers in a refreshed Model 3. The service has become more real as the June launch date approaches.
However, no information is provided about the cost or availability of the Robotaxi service to the general public, except for a potential referral link offer for Full Self-Driving (FSD). Tesla is also recruiting robotaxi test drivers in New York City and other locations but has not obtained autonomous vehicle permits there.
As Tesla continues to refine its autonomous driving technology, the Robotaxi service represents a significant step towards a fully autonomous future. The company's commitment to testing and improvement is evident in the controlled, invite-only nature of the current service, as it works towards a fully driverless Robotaxi for the public.
[1] Tesla's Robotaxi service in testing in Austin and San Francisco [2] Tesla's Cybercab is the backbone of the Robotaxi service [3] Industry experts discuss Tesla's Robotaxi service [4] Tesla recruits robotaxi test drivers in New York City and other locations
[1] In Austin and San Francisco, the limited Tesla Robotaxi fleet, equipped with safety drivers, is undergoing comprehensive testing. [2] The two-seater Cybercab, a core component of Tesla's Robotaxi service, features no steering wheel or pedals.
