You can now buy a new Tesla directly from the Tesla app
Not a Tesla App
Want to buy a Tesla? There's an app for that. Sorry, but the old catchphrase still rings true. Apple introduced us to the world of Apps in 2009 with a marketing campaign around that slogan. The commercial also said there is an app for just about anything. Fast forward 13 years, and you can add buying a Tesla to the list.
For a company that has never spent a dime on advertising, its marketing continues to dominate. When Tesla announced that it would allow non-Teslas access to its vast Supercharger network, it also gave thousands of electric vehicle owners a reason to download the company's app. That allows Tesla access to countless warm leads. These people already have EVs and now have Tesla's logo on their phones. They will have to open the app to use the charging station, and while waiting, maybe they want to look at the other features in the app. Until recently, you could buy a hat, a shirt or a mug, but now you can buy a Tesla.
Tesla pushed out a server-side update that includes a new button that simply says Order Now, Shop for a new car. It's that easy. The Four Ps are popular marketing methods, product, price, place and promotion.
This small addition to the app hits every P. The product speaks for itself as a trailblazer in the EV sector. The price is market tested, and clearly, it's right because the vehicles are in high demand. The place is how you get your product in front of buyers, well, this app is right in the buyer's hands. Promotion is how the product is advertised. For this, all people have to do is look around at the charging station and all the Teslas there while enjoying one of the more than 35,000 Supercharger stations.
Not only is Tesla getting electric vehicle owners to consider its product, but the company also has direct access to its existing fans. Perhaps you are sitting there with your Model 3 and spot a shiny red Model Y with turbine rims. Maybe you want that model next time you are in the market. You think, I'll look it up when I get home. Now you can look it up right there on the spot. With just one tap, you're on to the model and down the rabbit hole.
The process is the same as the website with its incredibly simplified buying process. After you pick the model, you choose the exterior color and the wheels, then it's the interior color and your choice if you want Enhanced Autopilot and Full Self Driving. It's remarkably simple and oh, so easy to order, almost too easy!
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Tesla has always embraced whimsy in its software, packing it with playful Easter eggs and surprises. From transforming the on-screen car into James Bond’s submarine to the ever-entertaining Emissions Testing Mode and the fan-favorite Rainbow Road, these hidden features have become a signature part of Tesla’s software.
Of course, launching a new product like Robotaxi wouldn’t be complete without a fun little easter egg of its own. The end-of-ride screen in the Robotaxi app presents a familiar option “Leave a tip.”
For anyone pleased with their Robotaxi ride, they may be tempted to leave a tip. However, tapping the button presents our favorite hedgehog instead of a payment screen.
The app displays a message, alongside the familiar Tesla hedgehog, that simply states “Just kidding.”
While it's a fun prank, it’s also a nod to what Tesla really wants to do. They want to reinforce the economic advantage of an autonomous Robotaxi Network. Without a driver, there is simply no need to tip. The gesture is playful, but it’s a reminder of what Tesla’s real aim is here.
Over the last few days, we’ve seen some exceptionally smooth performance from the latest version of FSD on Tesla’s Robotaxi Network pilot. However, the entire purpose of an early access program with Safety Monitors is to identify and learn from edge cases.
This week, the public saw the first recorded instance of a Safety Monitor intervention, providing a first look at how they’re expected to stop the vehicle.
The event involved a complex, low-speed interaction with a reversing UPS truck. The Safety Monitor intervened to stop the Robotaxi immediately, potentially avoiding a collision with the delivery truck. Let’s break down this textbook case of real-world unpredictability.
The Intervention [VIDEO]
In a video from a ride in Austin, a Robotaxi is preparing to pull over to its destination on the right side of the road, with its turn signal active. Ahead, a UPS truck comes to a stop. As the Model Y begins turning into the spot, the UPS truck, seemingly without signaling, starts to reverse. At this point, the Safety Monitor stepped in and pressed the In Lane Stop button on the main display, bringing the Robotaxi to an immediate halt.
This is precisely why Tesla has employed Safety Monitors in this initial pilot. They are there to proactively manage ambiguous situations where the intentions of other drivers are unclear. The system worked as designed, but it raises a key question: What would FSD have done on its own? It’s not clear whether the vehicle saw the truck backing up, or what it would do when it finally detected it. It’s also unclear whether the UPS driver recognized that the Robotaxi was pulling into the same spot at the exact same time.
It’s possible this wouldn’t result in a collision at all, but the Safety Monitor did the right thing by stepping in to prevent a potential collision, even one at low speed. Any collision just a few days after the Robotaxi Network launch could result in complications for Tesla.
Who Would Be At Fault?
This scenario is a classic edge case. It involves unclear right-of-way and unpredictable human behavior. Even for human drivers, the right-of-way here is complicated. While a reversing vehicle often bears responsibility, a forward-moving vehicle must also take precautions to avoid a collision. This legal and practical gray area is what makes these scenarios so challenging for AI to navigate.
Would the Robotaxi have continued, assuming the reversing truck would stop?
Or would it have identified the potential conflict and used its own ability to stop and reverse?
Without the intervention, it’s impossible to say for sure. However, crucial context comes from a different clip involving, surprisingly, another UPS delivery truck.
A Tale of Two Trucks
In a separate video posted on X, another Robotaxi encounters a remarkably similar situation. In that instance, as another UPS delivery truck obstructs the path forward, the Robotaxi comes to a stop to let its two passengers out just a few feet from their destination.
Once they depart, the Robotaxi successfully reverses and performs a three-point turn to extricate itself from a tight spot. That was all done without human intervention, by correctly identifying the situation.
This second clip is vital because it proves that the Robotaxi's FSD build has the underlying logic and capability to handle these scenarios. It can, and does, use reverse to safely navigate complex situations.
Far from being a failure, this first intervention should be seen as a success for Tesla’s safety methodology. It shows the safety system is working, allowing monitors to mitigate ambiguous events proactively.
More importantly, this incident provides Tesla’s FSD team with an invaluable real-world data point.
By comparing the intervened ride with the successful autonomous one, Tesla’s engineers can fine-tune FSD’s decision-making, which will likely have a positive impact on its edge case handling in the near future.
This is the purpose of a public pilot — to find the final edge cases and build a more robust system, one unpredictable reversing truck at a time.
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