How is Austin working with Tesla on its robotaxi rollout?
AUSTIN (KXAN) — As Tesla is poised to have robotaxis on Austin streets by the end of June, the city of Austin said on Thursday it is working in collaboration with the company.
The city said Tesla is working with the city's Autonomous Vehicle (AV) Working Group, which includes staff from multiple city departments.
'The City treats each AV company that expresses interest in Austin the same, offering training opportunities and providing information about City right-of-way and procedures,' a city spokesperson said.
Examples of information the city has provided to Tesla include:
Maps of schools and school zones.
Information about traffic control for special events.
Information about AFD and APD vehicles and procedures.
The city said that although it cannot regulate AVs, Austin can work with Tesla as they enter the market to 'offer staff's knowledge on the local transportation network to help AVs operate more safely.'
Is your insurance on the line if your robotaxi ride gets in a crash?
'Additionally, the City works with AV companies before and during deployment to obtain training for first responders, establish expectations for ongoing communication and share information about infrastructure and events,' a city spokesperson said.
Tesla initially unveiled its robotaxi called the 'Cybercab' at the Warner Bros. studio in Hollywood in October 2024, according to the Associated Press.
In December, KXAN reported that Tesla and the city of Austin had begun talks about bringing autonomous vehicle technology to the city.
According to AP, Musk said a Cybercab will cost just under $30,000 to make.
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