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Int'l Business Times
a day ago
- Automotive
- Int'l Business Times
Elon Musk Claims Tesla Robotaxi Will Hit Streets This Month: 'Most Important Product' Yet
Tesla's Cybercab robotaxi is displayed during the AutoMobility LA 2024 auto show at the Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, November 21, 2024. Elon Musk has revealed that Tesla's long-anticipated robotaxi service will launch in Austin, Texas, on June 22. He described it as the company's most significant product so far. The launch, which has been delayed for years, is expected to begin with around 10 self-driving cars and could expand rapidly if it proceeds smoothly. According to AP , Musk posted on X (formerly Twitter) that the rollout date is tentative, saying Tesla is being "super paranoid about safety." The robotaxis will initially operate only in geofenced areas of Austin—specific parts of the city deemed safe enough for self-driving vehicles. Tesla's cars will be monitored remotely in real time. This move comes at a time when Tesla's profits have fallen sharply. Tesla reported a net income of $7 billion last year, representing a 53% decrease from the previous year. Musk and investors believe robotaxis could change that. He told investors earlier this year, "I think this will be the largest asset value increase in human history." The robotaxi service will initially use modified Model Y SUVs. A new version of the robotaxi with no steering wheel or pedals—called the Cybercab—is not expected until 2026. Tesla's self-driving system, known as Full Self-Driving (FSD), relies on cameras and artificial intelligence, rather than the lidar sensors used by other companies, such as Google's Waymo. — TESLA CARS ONLY.⚡ (@teslacarsonly) June 10, 2025 Tesla's Robotaxi Isn't on the Road—But Waymo Already Is Waymo is already a step ahead, offering 250,000 paid robotaxi rides each week across four US cities, including Austin. Experts like Bryant Walker Smith from Stanford say companies like Waymo have built robust systems, while Tesla is still catching up, according to CNN . "There are real robotaxis on the road today. None of them is a Tesla," Smith said. Still, Musk remains confident. In an April earnings call, he said, "I don't see anyone being able to compete with Tesla at present... Tesla will have 99% market share or something ridiculous." But there are safety concerns. The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is currently investigating Tesla's FSD after reports of crashes, including one that killed a pedestrian. The car had trouble in low-visibility conditions, like glare and fog. Musk has rejected criticism of Tesla's camera-only system, calling lidar "friggin stupid." However, experts argue that lidar is more reliable in spotting hazards, especially in poor visibility conditions. Despite the hype, some believe the June 22 launch is more about proving a concept than launching a full-service. Analyst Gordon Johnson called it "a Tesla proof of concept exercise, not a rollout." Originally published on © {{Year}} All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Business Mayor
28-04-2025
- Automotive
- Business Mayor
California overhauling self-driving vehicle regulations governing Waymo, Tesla, Zoox and others
Waymo self-driving cars with roof-mounted sensor arrays traveling near palm trees and modern buildings along the Embarcadero, San Francisco, California, February 21, 2025. Smith Collection/gado | Archive Photos | Getty Images New rules for testing and deployment of self-driving vehicles are on the way in the state of California. The California DMV announced on Friday that it is now seeking public comment on proposed regulations that would apply to self-driving vehicles from light-duty robotaxis like Waymo's to heavy-duty driverless trucks like those from In a statement e-mailed to CNBC, a spokesperson for California DMV said the proposed regulations 'offer the nation's most comprehensive rules for the operation of autonomous vehicles and underscore the DMV's commitment to enhancing public safety, fostering innovation, and establishing a robust framework for AV technology testing and deployment.' With its engineering headquarters in Palo Alto, Elon Musk's Tesla has been promising to deliver a self-driving vehicle and driverless ride-hailing service for years. But Tesla has not yet obtained permits in California for deployment of driverless vehicles there, and the company has not yet sold vehicles that are deemed safe to use without a person behind the wheel. Shares of Tesla still climbed about 10% Friday, continuing to rebound from a recent plunge fueled by uncertainty around President Donald Trump's global tariff blitz. Competitors including Alphabet -owned Waymo, Amazon -owned Zoox and the Chinese AV company WeRide have all obtained a higher level of permits in California, and Waymo is already operating a robotaxi service in Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area. The state's vehicle safety authority has posted the regulations to its autonomous vehicles website, and it has begun accepting comments from the public for a 45-day period that will end June 9, 2025. After that, it plans to schedule a public hearing before implementing new regulations. The proposed regulation would require driverless vehicle makers to obtain a permit for testing with a human safety driver on-board, then complete a certain number of test-drive miles. They would then need to obtain another permit for driverless testing, as well as a final permit to deploy driverless vehicles in California. Tesla's Cybercab robotaxi is displayed during the AutoMobility LA 2024 auto show at the Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, November 21, 2024. Robyn Beck | AFP | Getty Images The new proposed rules would also allow autonomous trucks (weighing 10,001 pounds or more) to be tested on California's public roads. They would also require all AV makers operating in the state to adhere to new data-reporting requirements and comply with the state's standards for driverless vehicle interactions with first responders. California's updated regulations were announced after the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said it would relax an order requiring automakers to report data on collisions that occur while drivers are using their partially-automated or more advanced automated driving systems. In 2022, the California DMV sued Tesla, saying the company engaged in deceptive marketing and advertising practices around its Autopilot and Full Self-Driving systems. The company's advanced driver assistance systems require a person behind the wheel, ready to steer at any moment. That case is ongoing. Read More Sporty new Honda Jazz Advance Sport arrives with extra power READ SOURCE
