Overview

• The pilot program operates in select Austin neighborhoods with invited passengers and a safety operator in each vehicle.
• Rides cost a flat $4.20 and are booked through the Tesla app using preloaded payment information.
• Test runs exposed serious safety concerns, including instances of wrong-side driving, uncontrolled steering and speeding well above local limits.
• Tesla relies solely on cameras for autonomous navigation, omitting radar and lidar sensors used by competitors.
• Despite technical hurdles and potential regulatory scrutiny in Europe, Tesla plans to expand the service into additional U.S. cities, challenging Waymo One’s market dominance.