Tesla has quietly launched its robotaxi service in Austin, allowing the public to hail rides in vehicles using Tesla’s Autopilot and newly enhanced Full Self‑Driving (FSD) beta software. Although human safety drivers remain onboard, the system manages pickups, drop-offs, traffic lights, and highway lanes—accelerating Tesla’s pivot from personal EVs to autonomous ride-sharing fleet services

The trial includes early access via invitation only and is expected to expand citywide if safety and reliability benchmarks are met. Tesla intends to scale the service to other metropolitan areas once it achieves sufficient autonomous performance in real-world conditions.

Key Highlights

• Public Robotaxi Beta: Live rides begin in Austin with safety drivers monitoring journeys.

• Autonomy in Practice: Tesla vehicles autonomously navigate city traffic, highways, and smart signals.

• Invitation‑Only Access: Early users are being invited to help refine the system before broader rollout.

• Scalability on Deck: Success here may unlock national and global fleet expansion.

Why This Matters

1. Milestone in Autonomous Transport: Represents one of the first real-world robotaxi rollouts by a major OEM.

2. New EV Monetization Model: Shifts Tesla’s strategy from selling cars to providing ride-hailing services.

3. Regulatory & Safety Benchmark: Austin becomes a case study for testing autonomous vehicle safety and standards.

4. Mobility Ecosystem Shift: Signals what the future of urban transport could look like—autonomous fleets replacing taxis and ride-shares.

Source:
TechCrunch – Full Article