Electric car manufacturer Tesla recently introduced its pedal-free and steering wheel-free robotaxis during the “We, Robot” event and is gearing up to launch them on the roads of California and Texas next year. During the third-quarter earnings call, Tesla CEO Elon Musk revealed that the company has already begun testing a ride-sharing platform in the San Francisco Bay Area, initially available to employees. This platform will allow users to rent fully autonomous Tesla vehicles, and according to the current timeline, it is expected to be available to the public by 2025.
Musk also announced that Tesla’s Model 3 and Model Y vehicles would soon have access to the “fully autonomous” version of the Full Self-Driving software, capable of driving without any need for human oversight or intervention. For the first time, Musk mentioned the ride-sharing network, emphasizing that regulatory approval would be required before the product could be made available to consumers.
Tesla acknowledged potential challenges in obtaining the necessary approvals, particularly in California. The California Department of Motor Vehicles confirmed that Tesla has not yet applied for a driverless testing permit, although it would need one to proceed.
Commenting on these potential hurdles, Musk said, “This is not entirely under our control, but I would be shocked if we don’t get approval next year.” He also advocated for a national approval process for autonomous vehicles.
The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) stated that Tesla does not need a special permit for its current Bay Area ride-hailing platform since employees are not considered passengers.
One of Tesla’s biggest competitors in the robotaxi market, Waymo, currently holds the title as the only company operating a commercial robotaxi service in San Francisco. Waymo, a subsidiary of Alphabet, recently announced a partnership with Hyundai and shared that it had completed over 100,000 paid rides in just three months.
This version maintains the same informative content while presenting it in a unique and natural English format.
Leave a Reply