Tesla Robotaxi Service Launches: Autonomous Model Ys Hit the Road!

Tesla has officially launched its long-awaited robotaxi service in the United States. Fully autonomous Model Y vehicles can now be summoned via an app to transport users to their desired destinations.

Tesla had previously announced its robotaxi service, which has been anticipated for years, and even unveiled a steer-by-wire, self-driving vehicle in connection with it. While the release of that specific car is still a ways off, work on the robotaxi service, which will function similarly to an Uber competitor, has begun. Tesla’s robotaxi service officially launched yesterday in the US.

The Tesla robotaxi service has been initiated as a limited trial in Austin, Texas, in the United States. This means it is currently being tested with a small number of vehicles and users. It’s worth noting that Tesla is using 10-20 Model Y vehicles with full self-driving capabilities for this robotaxi service, with the number expected to increase over time.

Here’s how the Tesla robotaxi service works:

For now, the robotaxi service operates in relatively safer areas of Austin. The goal is to assess the service’s safety and effectiveness. Therefore, it’s not available in adverse weather conditions, at airports, on highways, at complex intersections, or in heavy traffic. The service operates from 6 AM to 12 AM.

On its first day, many users utilized the Tesla robotaxi service and shared their experiences on social media. We’ve compiled these user-shared videos throughout this content. The footage shows users first selecting their destination on the robotaxi app. The app displays the estimated arrival time of the nearest robotaxi, the approximate fare, and the estimated time of arrival.

After that, a fully autonomous Model Y vehicle arrives to pick up the users. The videos indicate that the journeys were smooth, and there have been no reports of any problems. It appears the Tesla robotaxi service passed its first-day test. Of course, trials will continue.

Elon Musk stated that there could be over 1,000 robotaxis on the roads within a few months, and they plan to launch the service in many different US regions soon. The company’s steer-by-wire autonomous car, named Cybercab, is expected to be released no earlier than 2026.

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