Elon Musk Reveals Testing of Autonomous Tesla Robotaxis in Austin, Unsupervised by Humans

Recently, a video surfaced on social media showcasing a Tesla Model Y navigating the streets of Austin without an occupant, breaking Tesla’s previous protocol which always included a human monitor.

This surprising footage has stirred up interest among Tesla enthusiasts. Following the video's release, many enthusiasts used their apps to summon a robotaxi to verify whether they too would experience a completely unmanned ride; they didn't.

On the same day, Tesla's CEO Elon Musk confirmed that the company is advancing its testing phase with fully autonomous taxis, though, as of now, this level of testing hasn’t included actual customer rides.

Replying to the post, Musk stated, 'Trials are ongoing with the vehicles unsupervised by human occupants.' He further underscored this revelation amid the online discussions.

Tesla’s AI chief, Ashok Elluswamy, echoed Musk's words, marking it as the beginning of a new era in autonomous transportation.

The sighting of an unmanned Tesla robotaxi in Austin marks a significant milestone as the company continues to push toward a future where cars drive themselves without human backup.

According to data from Robotaxi Tracker, an Austin-based tracker managed by Ethan McKenna, the number of robotaxis in the city has increased slightly, recently counting 31 operational vehicles. This progression aligns with Musk's goal to expand to 500 autonomous vehicles by year's end.

Discussing upcoming plans in a recent online session at an xAI hackathon, Musk reiterated the company’s ambitious target to fully eliminate human safety drivers from the Austin-based service well before the year ends.

Musk had shared, as reported by Teslarati, that their goal is to soon have robotaxis in Austin functioning independently, even freelancing the passenger seat.

Previously, a Business Insider examination in July of these self-driving vehicles revealed the necessity for human intervention multiple times, particularly when the car mistakenly navigated the wrong direction.

As of now, Tesla remains silent without a public statement regarding these developments, despite inquiries from news outlets.