Yesterday, Tesla (TSLA) demonstrated its Robotaxi service in Austin, Texas to a select Early Access group. These Early Access members tested the service extensively, filmed, and shared their experiences on social media, especially on X (Twitter).
During the entire day and evening of the Robotaxi drives, no incident was recorded. This was the first time Tesla offered rides to non-employees where a driver was not present in the vehicle.
A Tesla employee was present in the front passenger seat. These safety personnel were instructed to refrain from any discussions with the Early Access riders and from giving out any additional information.
Tesla is currently using the new Model Y Juniper electric SUVs for the Robotaxi service. No smaller Cybercab prototype was used in the Early Access demo rides.
Interestingly, if you’re an existing Tesla owner and book a Robotaxi ride, all your music and other preferences are loaded into the vehicle. This happens because you log in to the Tesla Robotaxi mobile app using your Tesla Account.
Early Access riders were only allowed to sit on the rear seat of the Tesla Robotaxi Model Ys. Since it has a rear screen, riders were able to see the navigation and play their favorite music as well.
“Super smooth, it’s literally like riding in a Tesla, just hanging out, there’s no driver, zero drama,” said Farzad, one of the Early Access Robotaxi riders.
“It’s done a tremendous job with speed bumps,” another rider expressed his views while the Tesla Robotaxi navigated the streets of Austin, Texas at night.
According to an Early Access rider, the FSD software version on these Tesla Robotaxis is different than the latest FSD v13 on customer vehicles. However, no significant difference in the UI and FSD visualizations was observed during these rides.
“Very smooth, very safe, waited until cars came along,” said one rider. “I’m liking this, the car’s like pretty quick, it doesn’t wait too long, it just starts moving as soon as the car in front starts to move,” he said as the car turned right on an intersection.
Overall, Tesla’s Robotaxi service introduction in Austin, Texas, was a successful event for Tesla (TSLA). This should reflect positively on the company’s stock price as the market opens this morning.
Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) closed at $322.16 on Friday, 20th June. Year-to-date (YTD), Tesla’s share price has declined around -15.06%, but interestingly, it has grown +76.45% or a $139.58 increase in the last 12 months.
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Related Tesla Robotaxi News
- Here’s how to get around the Tesla Robotaxi pickup location bug
- Tesla starts Robotaxi service in the SF Bay Area, but it’s different from Austin
- Tesla FSD to get Robotaxi improvements in general release, Robotaxi California launch is pending regulatory approval, Musk
- Tesla expands Robotaxi service area in Austin, the new map looks like the Tesla logo upside down, says the automaker
- Tesla is mapping Austin, Texas for Robotaxi service and Cybertruck FSD
- Tesla Robotaxi mode has a special wiper routine focused on FSD camera cleaning (video)
