Discuss: Empty Tesla Robotaxis Spotted Driving Autonomously in Austin [VIDEO]

[Not a Tesla App]

A new video shows a Tesla Model Y driving in Austin with absolutely no one inside, confirming the imminent arrival of unsupervised Robotaxis.… Read More

Empty Tesla Robotaxis Spotted Driving Autonomously in Austin [VIDEO]

A new video shows a Tesla Model Y driving in Austin with absolutely no one inside, confirming the imminent arrival of unsupervised Robotaxis.

www.notateslaapp.com

 

[Procal]

This is pretty cool to see, and a fairly quick turnaround from the stated three weeks. My question is, will this be exclusive to Austin for now? And how does this affect unsupervised FSD for everyone else? Will this mean that we will see unsupervised FSD start hitting consumer cars in the next few months, or is Tesla only confident in its ability when it's locked down to certain areas. I doubt we will see unsupervised FSD doing cross-country trips any time soon, but this does at least give some hope that FSD unsupervised will happen on HW4 to some degree. It would be cool if unsupervised becomes available to those that live within the Robotaxi service area, but then switches back to supervised FSD if it leaves that area.

 

[PrescottAZRichard]

Good questions. I think the geo-fencing aspect are why they can test driverless/ monitor-less. To get it approved everywhere must be more complicated, authorities in each state have some say. Lots of questions about the near future.
In the meantime let's see this as further progress towards OUR cars driving us around while we kick back and enjoy the ride. Even more than we do now. I sure hope we can airplay to the screen in the car, I could actually get some work done.

 

[Procal]

Good questions. I think the geo-fencing aspect are why they can test driverless/ monitor-less. To get it approved everywhere must be more complicated, authorities in each state have some say. Lots of questions about the near future.
In the meantime let's see this as further progress towards OUR cars driving us around while we kick back and enjoy the ride. Even more than we do now. I sure hope we can airplay to the screen in the car, I could actually get some work done.

Yeah, I get that regulations are the biggest limiting factor for unsupervised FSD, especially when you have to cross multiple state lines. My hope is that we get a blanket autonomous vehicle rule set for the entire country. Tesla and Waymo aren't the only players in this field. And it would be nice if legislation surrounding this technology was uniform, rather than having to navigate a ton of bureaucracy every time a company wants to come along and compete in the space.

But I do agree, I see this as an absolute win, even if it isn't on consumer cars yet. I just hope that they don't do again what they did to us this year when we went several months without FSD updates because of the focus on Robotaxi. I understand that is a high priority for them as a company, but it would be nice if the same progress could be made on consumer cars. Imagine if we had at least level 3 on highways by mid-year 2026!