Tesla has officially begun its robotaxi service in Austin, Texas on June 22, marking a significant milestone for the company. The initial phase includes only ten cars, with rides limited to select Tesla users and accompanied by human “Tesla Safety Monitors” to ensure safety during the autonomous rides. Early riders, predominantly Tesla enthusiasts, have taken to social media, particularly on X, to share their firsthand experiences of this innovative service.
Many users have described the experience as akin to using a regular ride-hailing service, with one user likening it to “basically Uber.” However, some faced challenges in summoning a Tesla car from the limited pool, observing multiple driverless Waymos passing by instead. Austin proves to be a hotbed for autonomous ride testing, with competitors like Waymo and Amazon’s Zoox also exploring their technologies in the region.
To initiate a journey, users must first verify their identity with the accompanying safety monitor and then press the “start ride” button. Tesla has integrated the service with users’ profiles, allowing for seamless customization such as importing music playlists and adjusting settings via the companion app. The robotaxi presents convenient features like buttons to request the car to pull over or stop and an option to contact support in case of any issues during the autonomous ride.
Tesla unveiled a dedicated robotaxi page with guidelines, rules, FAQs, and a sign-up sheet for updates as the service launches. Early access riders are being charged a flat rate of $4.20 for their rides within a specified geofenced area, excluding airports, and operating between 6AM to midnight. Although Elon Musk’s ambitious goal of expanding the driverless fleet to a thousand cars within months may raise skepticism, Tesla remains adamant about running its robotaxi network using an “unsupervised” self-driving software version.
