Tesla has launched robotaxis in Texas, but they're not available to everyone yet
Tesla officially launched its robotaxi service in Austin, Texas on Sunday, 22 June. However, with a number of limitations that make the launch not so flashy.
Here's What We Know
Firstly, the service is not yet open to the general public, nor is it completely "unmonitored" as Elon Musk once promised. The cars will include "safety monitors", that is, Tesla employees in the front passenger seat. The latter can react to a dangerous situation by pressing a switch (kill switch). Other operators of autonomous vehicles also place "safety monitors" in the driver's or passenger seat, but usually only during the testing phase. Tesla is unique in that it uses monitors during commercial service.
Second, Tesla sometimes uses escort vehicles and remote drivers as an added layer of safety. And third, robotaxi rides are limited to a portion of the city that has been mapped by the company.
Illustrative photo of Tesla Robotaxi. Photo: Tesla
According to Tesla's website, the service is available by invitation only at launch. Influential Tesla supporters have received such invitations, raising questions about how impartial the initial critical reactions will be. Tesla has not said when the service will be available to the general public.
During the limited trial period, the service will engage 10-20 Model Y vehicles with "Robotaxi" branding. The fully autonomous Cybercab, first unveiled last year, won't be available until 2026 at the earliest. The service operates in a small, relatively safe area of Austin from 6am to 12am, avoiding bad weather, motorways, airports and difficult intersections.
Source: TheVerge
