Key Takeaways
- Only Tesla personnel have had access to the service.
- In the Bay Area, autonomous Teslas have been put to work.
- A safety driver operates a vehicle.
In an effort to enhance its ride-hailing service prototype, Elon Musk disclosed that Tesla has spent the previous three months testing a fleet of self-governing robotaxis in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Elon Musk disclosed during this week’s Q3 2024 Financial Results earnings call that a small group of Tesla workers had been able to call in autonomous Tesla cars and take them on trips within the Bay Area.
Musk added that the cars come with a safety driver on board who is prepared to step in if something goes wrong.You may request a trip using the developer app, and it will transport you to any location in the Bay Area,” Musk stated.
The self-driving cars Musk talks about are modified versions of current Tesla products running the most recent version of the company’s Full Self-Driving software, far from the fully control-free robotaxis that earlier last month, Tesla made its announcement at its We, Robot event.
Like Waymo and Cruise, Tesla does not currently have an official license to run a commercial autonomous ride-hailing service. Employees will, however, have been given authorization to assist in improving its ride-hailing service. Musk stated that, subject to regulatory approval, he intends to launch a ride-hailing service in Texas and California the following year.
Musk essentially stated that any $25,000 car would need to be driverless on the earrings call, sidestepping a straight question regarding the long-rumored “affordable” Tesla.
“Basically, having a standard 25K model is pointless. It would be absurd. It would be totally contrary to our beliefs,” Musk stated.
This disclosure seems to support Elon’s intentions for a Tesla Network, as does the fact that the company is already testing its ride-hailing service. Owners can efficiently utilize their highly autonomous vehicles in this network by using them as robotaxis services when they are not in use or are dispatched to deliver packages.
The Verge claims that Tesla executives explained how some features in the existing Tesla app, such as sharing profiles and synchronizing settings between vehicles, are setting the stage for a future robotaxi service.
