A Tesla robotaxi was recently filmed driving without a driver on the streets of Austin, Texas. The footage, shared on X by Tesla CEO Elon Musk on Tuesday, showcases the vehicle turning left off an avenue with two pedestrians crossing nearby. While no one occupied the driver’s seat, a passenger was visible in the front. The tinted rear windows prevented a clear view inside, but the car displayed a logo reading “Robotaxi.”
This video marks a significant milestone, aligning with Musk’s earlier remarks that Tesla had commenced testing autonomous vehicles on public roads in Austin without a driver present. Musk commented on the video, describing it as having a “beautifully simple design.”
Tesla has not yet provided a statement regarding the video, and the original poster of the footage has also not responded to inquiries for further details. Reports suggest that Tesla plans to launch its robotaxi service as early as Thursday, according to Bloomberg News.
The company is entering a competitive market, taking on Waymo, a Google spinoff that has expanded its robotaxi service across four cities: Austin, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and San Francisco. Waymo’s service, which allows anyone with its app to request rides, operates similarly to popular ride-hailing services like Uber and Lyft but without a human driver.
In addition to Waymo, three other tech companies are currently testing autonomous vehicles in Austin: Zoox, Amazon’s subsidiary; Volkswagen ADMT; and AVRide, a Yandex spinoff.
Initially, Tesla’s robotaxi service is expected to be modest in scale, potentially operating with only 10 vehicles in its first week, as Musk revealed in an interview with CNBC last month. However, he expressed confidence that autonomous vehicles would soon become prevalent on the streets, stating, “The streets will change very rapidly.”
The robotaxi initiative represents a vital strategy for Tesla as the company grapples with declining sales amid a turbulent period. Tesla reported a 71% drop in profits in the first quarter of this year, a situation exacerbated by Musk’s political engagement, which has alienated some Tesla customers.
In response to a query on X, Musk clarified that the software utilized in these test robotaxis is distinct from the software in standard Tesla vehicles, noting that it “still requires a lot of polishing.”