Elon Musk has delivered on another of his promises. In South Austin, the first public phase of the Tesla Robotaxi service officially launched today, with each ride set at a flat rate of $4.20. The transportation revolution is here – at least in a limited form.


🔹 Service Launch Confirmed – Just Ten Vehicles for Now

In a testing phase, Tesla has deployed ten modified Model Y vehicles operating within a specific area of South Austin. The cars run daily from 6:00 AM to midnight, monitored by a Tesla employee seated in the front passenger seat as a “safety monitor.”

Each ride is priced at a flat $4.20, a symbolic figure Musk often uses as part of his public persona.


🔹 No Driver, No LiDAR – Just Cameras and AI

Unlike competitors like Waymo, Tesla is relying solely on cameras and AI software, not LiDAR sensors. Musk has long argued that human vision can be effectively replaced by cameras and neural networks.

Although the cars are officially driverless, Tesla still includes a human monitor to oversee the ride. It’s unclear whether this person has the ability to take control in case of emergency.


🔹 No Cybercabs – At Least Not Yet

Instead of the futuristic Cybercabs Musk revealed in October 2024, Tesla opted for the updated 2025 Model Y, equipped with the latest Full Self-Driving (FSD) software. Musk describes this system as “unsupervised” – meaning the vehicle drives completely on its own.


🔹 Secrecy, Limited Transparency, and Controlled Access

Once again, Tesla has been extremely cautious with public information. Most details have come directly from Musk’s posts on X (formerly Twitter) or from early users sharing their experiences. Many of them are known Tesla supporters.

TechCrunch and other media outlets have reportedly struggled to get official information – Tesla allegedly blocked public records requests from the Texas Department of Transportation and tried to stop the city of Austin from releasing documents to Reuters.


🔹 Safety Rules and Limited Camera Use

During rides, interior cameras are not activated by default. They only turn on in emergencies, when support is requested, or after a trip to verify the vehicle’s readiness. Tesla also set strict passenger rules: no smoking, vaping, drinking, drug use, or criminal activity. Users who violate these rules and share footage may be suspended or banned from the service.


🔹 A Long-Awaited Beginning

The launch of Robotaxi marks a significant step toward Elon Musk’s vision of fully autonomous transportation. Tesla invited a limited number of users to download the new app and begin requesting rides on launch day. Early reactions have been positive, though not without hiccups – author Ed Niedermeyer, who has written a book on Tesla, observed some test vehicles making sudden stops near parked police cars.


🔹 Tesla Celebrates – But Scrutiny Remains

A photo from the Robotaxi launch party was shared by Tesla’s Head of Autopilot Ashok Elluswamy. Elon Musk followed up on X with a message: “Huge congratulations to the @Tesla_AI software and chip teams on the successful launch of @Robotaxi!! A decade of hard work coming together.”

Summary: The first real-world test of Tesla’s autonomous Robotaxi service is live – with just ten cars, limited coverage, and human monitors on board. Still, it’s a major milestone in Musk’s long-term vision for a driverless future. The revolution is rolling – cautiously but undeniably.


#ElonMusk , #ROBOTAXI , #Tesla , #AI , #worldnews

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