Tesla says it delivered its first car autonomously from factory to customer
This might be a bigger deal than the robotaxis.
Tesla said it completed its first fully autonomous vehicle delivery from factory to customer. A video posted on X shows the vehicle — a Tesla Model Y — leaving the company's Austin Gigafactory, driving on the highway, passing through suburban sprawl and residential neighborhoods, before arriving at a customer's apartment building.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk had promised the first fully autonomous delivery would take place June 28th. But on Friday he announced that the milestone had been achieved a day early.
'There were no people in the car at all and no remote operators in control at any point. FULLY autonomous!' Musk wrote on X. 'To the best of our knowledge, this is the first fully autonomous drive with no people in the car or remotely operating the car on a public highway.'
That last part isn't accurate. Waymo has been operating fully driverless vehicles with passengers on the highway for over a year. The vehicles, which are driving on freeways in Phoenix, San Francisco, and Los Angeles, are only available to employees of the company, with the goal to open them up to the public at a later date.
But Tesla's achievement is still notable, especially when you consider the rocky rollout of the company's robotaxi service. The robotaxis launched with safety monitors in the passenger seat with access to a kill switch, and within a few days the vehicles were recorded committing several safety lapses, including driving over the double-yellow line into the opposite lane of traffic and hard braking in the middle of the road for no apparent reason.
By proving it can operate fully autonomous vehicles on highways without a safety monitor present in the vehicle, Tesla is able to demonstrate that its Full Self-Driving system is getting closer to Musk's promise of 'unsupervised' driving. The robotaxis aren't quite there yet, still requiring safety monitors and remote supervisors. That leaves Tesla in limbo between confidence that its technology can handle the driving without anyone in the vehicle, but less confident when there's a human being riding inside.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
22 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez are one of the richest married couples. Here's how the ultrawealthy do prenups.
With Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez now married, they're likely to have a complex prenup. Lawyers and wealth management experts outlined the prenup process for the superrich. Business control, property ownership, and trusts are just some of the questions prenups tackle. Hindsight is 20/20 — especially when hindsight is worth $38 billion. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and MacKenzie Scott, his first wife, got married without a prenup (in 1993, before Bezos started Amazon). Scott received roughly $38 billion in Amazon shares in the settlement, making her one of the world's richest women. On Friday, Bezos got married again, this time to helicopter pilot and former journalist Lauren Sánchez. Experts in family law and wealth management told Business Insider that the couple is almost certain to have a complex prenup. Bezos is, after all, worth more than $200 billion today. A representative for Bezos didn't respond to a request for comment from BI about whether the couple has a prenup. Anne Paape, the managing director and head of wealth strategy at Cresset Capital, a multi-family office for entrepreneurs and multi-generational families of wealth, said prenups are generally becoming more common and are sometimes even mandated in family trusts for the ultrawealthy. Prenups begin with both people fully disclosing their financial assets and debts, she said. Besides family, they can also involve everyone from business partners and tax attorneys to luxury realtors and aviation experts who help appraise homes and private jets, said Brooke Summerhill, a divorce financial consultant who primarily works with ultra-high net worth clients. "It's not the clients making a lot of these decisions, it's their team helping them understand what those decisions are and making those decisions with them," she told BI. Paape doesn't know the details of Bezos' potential prenup but said his situation isn't entirely unique: Many superrich weddings mark second or third marriages for at least one spouse, often one whose assets have changed considerably since their first time tying the knot. "He will absolutely have protection against anything that he could," Summerhill said, adding that he likely won't let his pre-marriage assets co-mingle with Sánchez's assets. The more money you have, the more potential prenup headaches you'll have, especially when it comes to business interests and properties. Wealthy clients tend to have properties and business interests around the globe, making it harder to ensure compliance with divorce and death laws in various jurisdictions. Many entrepreneurs like Bezos are focused on insulating their businesses in the event of a divorce or death. Most don't want to risk giving an ex-partner enough stock to have a say in how the company runs, Paape told BI. "You could try to compensate for keeping that off the table," Paape said. "What else if you were to get divorced? What other resources could you provide to that person?" Clauses safeguarding the appreciation of assets during a marriage are also key for wealthy clients, Summerhill said. If the couple ever divorces, it's not unlikely that Sánchez would get a lump sum, Amazon shares, and some real estate, according to Summerhill and Raymond Hekmat, a family law attorney in Beverly Hills who primarily writes prenups. But a marriage can also end in death, and that's where a death clause can come in. As Summerhill put it, this "prevents the surviving spouse from claiming a bigger portion of that deceased person's separate property." A surviving spouse commonly receives a lump sum or life insurance payout upon their spouse's death, she said, but a last will and testament may take precedent over the prenup. Prenups for the ultrawealthy have repercussions beyond the couple, whether it's about who takes over the family empire or gets the keys to the Hamptons home. "There's more people that care about the resolution of that breakup, whether it's divorce or death," Paape said. "It's business partners, it's employees, it's charities you support, it's children and grandchildren." She said trusts "are a no-brainer " for children of the ultrarich and that many provisions deal with inherited property or business ownership. Bezos shares four children with Scott, and Sánchez has three kids. Hekmat said all the prenups he draws up have a confidentiality provision, and some can include social media restrictions. "In the event of a breakup, you can't disparage the other party or discuss the prenup in any way with the public, and there could be penalties involved," he said. Prenups can also include sunset clauses, which say that some provisions or even the full agreement expires after a certain period of time. Some people may choose to change certain provisions and become more generous after they've been with their spouse for a while, Paape said. Hekmat said that even with prenups, couples risk messy legal and financial fights down the line. Proclaimed love and devotion aside, he kept his advice for the Bezoses of the world simple. "My bottom line for billionaires is don't get married." Have a tip or a story to share about your own experiences with a prenup? Contact these reporters via email at atecotzky@ or sjackson@ or on Signal at alicetecotzky.05. Use a personal email address and a nonwork device; here's our guide to sharing information securely. Read the original article on Business Insider
Yahoo
22 minutes ago
- Yahoo
I'm a financial planner. These are the 5 key relationships all my wealthy clients seem to have.
Most wealthy individuals rely on a team of experts for financial and legal guidance. Key relationships include financial advisors, CPAs, attorneys, life coaches, and mentors. These experts help manage complexity, protect assets, and support personal and professional growth. I've been working with high-income professionals for over a decade, as a certified public accountant and certified financial planner. During my time working with wealthy clients, one thing has become clear: they don't achieve success alone. Behind every wealthy client is a trusted team — experts they rely on to make sound decisions and stay ahead. As the saying goes, "If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together." In my experience, all of my wealthy clients have five key relationships. As wealth grows, so does financial complexity. That's why it is crucial to work with an advisor who offers comprehensive services and acts in your best interest—a fiduciary. One of the most important areas where my wealthy clients seek help is with their finances. By working with a financial advisor, they ensure they have a comprehensive financial plan that supports continued wealth building, protects their assets, and enables them to share their wealth meaningfully. Delegating this responsibility frees up their time and energy to focus on income-generating activities, like running a business or managing investment properties. As soon as your financial life becomes more complex, it's time to bring in a CPA. Taxes are rarely anyone's favorite subject, and as income and assets grow, so does the complexity. Most of my clients have built wealth through business ownership, real estate, or investments — all of which come with significant tax and accounting challenges. Every wealthy individual I've worked with has had a strong CPA on their team, not just for tax compliance, but to proactively plan for the future. Don't wait until tax season to realize you need one. Whether it's bookkeeping, payroll, or advanced tax planning, a knowledgeable CPA helps ensure everything is done accurately and strategically. Many high-net-worth individuals face legal challenges at some point, whether it's from a disgruntled employee, an unhappy customer, or complex business dealings. To safeguard their assets, wealthy clients often have a team of attorneys covering areas like business law, estate planning, and family matters. They've worked too hard to build their wealth to risk losing it over avoidable legal issues. Legal protection isn't just about reacting to problems—it's about proactively shielding your assets from potential threats. Even if you're not yet wealthy, it's wise to begin implementing legal protections early. Asset protection isn't just for the ultra-rich — it's a critical part of building lasting wealth. Wealthy individuals often lead complex and demanding lives—running businesses, managing investments, or frequently traveling. With so much happening, it can be difficult to stay centered, grounded, and emotionally balanced. That's where a life coach becomes invaluable. Life coaches support their clients in improving overall well-being, finding clarity, and aligning their personal and professional goals. Whether it's navigating life transitions, managing stress, or seeking greater fulfillment, a life coach helps high-achieving individuals live with intention and purpose. Most wealthy individuals have trusted advisors in their corner — people they can count on for strategic advice and direction. Just as important, many of these individuals also give back by mentoring others. As they climb the ladder of success, they recognize the importance of investing in the next generation, understanding they didn't get to where they are alone. Mentorship becomes a way to carry the torch and uplift others on their journey. Jovan Johnson, CPA and CFP, is the co-owner of Piece of Wealth Planning and specializes in strategic tax planning, personal financial planning, and small business accounting. Read the original article on Business Insider Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
22 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Tesla Has Big Plans in China
Tesla is moving forward with plans to develop new operations in China despite the ongoing trade war between the United States and China, and with uncertainty over tariffs. In June, Tesla signed an agreement to develop a grid-scale battery power plant in China to help provide the country with a stable supply of clean power for consumers and support its aims for a green transition. However, Tesla will be competing with some of the world's biggest battery manufacturers for a market share, as it strives to break into new territory, beyond electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing. The U.S.-based EV giant Tesla began as a Silicon Valley startup around two decades ago. Elon Musk joined the company as its chairman and principal funder in 2004, becoming its CEO in 2008. Tesla was viewed as a pioneer in the world of EVs, investing in a new way of driving when most automakers were only just beginning to float the idea. The EV firm dominated the U.S. and European EV market for several years, offering consumers a variety of wholly electric car models ahead of many of its much larger competitors. The Tesla Model S, which went on sale in 2012, had sports car performance and a range of over 250 miles, at a time when most competitors were offering far slower EVs with a comparatively low range. By 2020, Tesla held a 60 percent share of the U.S. EV market, a figure that fell to 38 percent in 2024, as hundreds of highly competitive EVs flooded the market. However, over time, Tesla has become more than just an EV manufacturer. The company has invested in the development of autonomous driving systems, aiming to deliver driverless 'robotaxis' to cities worldwide. It also has a burgeoning energy-storage business and is working on developing a humanoid robot, known as Optimus. While its EV business is faltering, as far more fully electric options enter the market, many from reputable automakers and at a lower cost, Tesla remains optimistic about its other projects. In June, Tesla announced it had signed a deal to develop the largest grid-scale battery power plant of its kind in China. The utility-scale battery storage system will be used to balance the supply and demand of energy to the grid, helping to deliver a stable supply of renewable electricity to consumers. The deal is thought to be worth $556 million. Tesla's first battery factory in Shanghai has produced over 100 Megapacks – the batteries used for utility-scale deployment – in the first quarter of the year, according to Tesla. One Megapack can provide up to 1 MW of power for four hours. The company stated, 'The grid-side energy storage power station is a 'smart regulator' for urban electricity, which can flexibly adjust grid resources.' The use of Megapacks is expected to boost energy security by ensuring that a stable supply of renewable electricity is delivered to consumers. China has invested heavily in its solar and wind energy sectors for several decades to become the biggest renewable energy power in the world. The Asian giant once again broke records last year when it installed huge quantities of green energy. China's installed solar and wind power capacity climbed 45.2 percent and 18 percent, respectively, in 2024, according to the National Energy Administration. There is now 886.67 GW of installed solar power, marking an increase from 609.49 GW in 2023, as well as a wind energy capacity of 520 GW. China hit its 2030 renewable energy capacity target in July last year, six years ahead of schedule. China's huge renewable energy capacity means that it is vital that the country install utility-scale battery storage at several of its major wind and solar farms to ensure that the clean energy supply is not limited only to the hours of the day in which the sun is shining and the wind is blowing. Battery storage will help China shift its reliance away from fossil fuels in the coming decades as it attempts to decarbonise the economy. Tesla is competing against China's CATL and the automaker BYD in developing battery storage. CATL currently holds around 40 percent of the global market share for battery manufacturing, and the firm was previously expected to provide the battery cells and packs used in Tesla's Megapacks. In addition, Tesla is taking a gamble as the project comes at a time when China is facing a trade war with the U.S., with President Trump having recently imposed high tariffs on Chinese imports. China now has a grid-scale battery capacity of around 40 GW. However, this will have to grow immensely in the coming years to help meet the country's green transition aims. In addition, other countries around the world will be looking to expand their utility-scale battery installations, which could lead Tesla to export more batteries from China. By Felicity Bradstock for More Top Reads From this article on Sign in to access your portfolio
