Overview
- Elon Musk confirmed on X that testing is underway with no occupants, advancing Tesla’s Austin pilot that launched in June with human safety monitors.
- Videos posted Sunday showed at least two Model Y robotaxis driving on public roads with empty front seats, with Tesla’s AI chief noting, “And so it begins!”
- Tesla’s driverless runs are not yet carrying paying customers, and independent tracking estimates roughly 31 active robotaxi units operating in Austin.
- Recent Robotaxi app updates introduced Cabin Camera Analytics and Sound Detection Analytics to enable remote oversight when no employee is inside the vehicle.
- Safety scrutiny is intensifying as NHTSA records show multiple Austin crashes and Tesla has not released comprehensive, verifiable safety data, while rival Waymo reports far larger driverless operations.