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4d ago

Tesla's Austin Robotaxi Pilot to Rely on Teleoperations as Federal Scrutiny Intensifies

The June launch will feature a small, invite-only fleet of supervised Model Ys while Tesla addresses NHTSA concerns over low-visibility safety.

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Overview

  • Tesla is set to launch an invite-only robotaxi pilot in Austin next month with a fleet of 10–20 Model Y vehicles supervised remotely via teleoperations.
  • The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has requested detailed data on how Tesla's autonomous system handles challenging low-visibility conditions such as fog, glare, and rain.
  • Tesla's pilot will use teleoperations, allowing remote employees to take limited control of vehicles to ensure safety during edge cases or operational issues.
  • CEO Elon Musk has reiterated his ambitious goal of deploying 'millions of robotaxis' across the U.S. by the end of 2025, despite skepticism from industry experts and analysts about the company’s technical readiness.
  • The success of the Austin pilot is seen as critical for Tesla to validate its Full Self-Driving technology and counter waning EV sales and heightened regulatory scrutiny.