Latest news with #ModelYs
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Tesla's Robotaxis Won't Be Driving Alone — Humans Will Be Watching
Tesla's Robotaxis Won't Be Driving Alone — Humans Will Be Watching originally appeared on Autoblog. Tesla's long-promised fleet of self-driving robotaxis is finally arriving — sort of. CEO Elon Musk says the company will launch a small pilot of driverless Model Ys in Austin, Texas, by the end of June. But rather than letting the cars roam entirely on their own, Tesla is quietly hiring human teleoperators to monitor and, if necessary, take control of the vehicles remotely. This hybrid approach isn't unusual in the autonomous vehicle industry, but it stands in contrast to Tesla's public messaging around 'Full Self-Driving.' While Musk has long dismissed the need for external sensors like LIDAR and radar, calling Tesla's camera-based AI system sufficient, the company is still relying on human assistance to address real-world challenges. Investment analysts at Morgan Stanley recently confirmed that Tesla is relying heavily on human oversight, citing visits to the company's Palo Alto office. Several job postings back this up, including roles for 'Teleoperation' engineers who will help create tools that allow humans to see what the car sees and intervene when things go wrong. These workers won't just be steering stuck robotaxis from afar. Tesla says they'll also help build the user interface that connects remote humans with onboard AI — essentially shaping the collaboration between man and machine. Tesla hasn't yet released safety data for its Full Self-Driving (Supervised) software, which is still under federal scrutiny. Both Autopilot and FSD have been linked to hundreds of crashes, including some fatal ones. The company maintains that its approach will prove safer than human drivers in the long run, but for now, it's taking extra precautions. The Austin rollout will start with just 10 vehicles and be limited to an invite-only group of users. Musk says Tesla plans to scale up to 1,000 robotaxis within a few months, assuming the pilot runs smoothly. Tesla's teleoperation setup now looks surprisingly similar to what Waymo, a longtime autonomous driving competitor, already uses. Waymo employs 'fleet response agents' who step in when its cars get confused. Tesla's version may go even further, using virtual reality rigs and custom software to give operators a real-time view and control of the car's surroundings. Tesla's upcoming robotaxi rollout may mark a major milestone for the company, but it also underscores how far we still are from truly autonomous driving. Despite bold claims and years of promises, even Tesla is leaning on human intervention to make its system viable in the real world. That's not necessarily a setback; it's a pragmatic step. As the line between autonomy and remote assistance blurs, Tesla joins a growing list of companies accepting that 'self-driving' often still requires a safety net. Whether this hybrid model is a short-term bridge or a long-term necessity remains to be seen. For now, the road to autonomy still has a human hand on the wheel, just not inside the car. Tesla's Robotaxis Won't Be Driving Alone — Humans Will Be Watching first appeared on Autoblog on May 29, 2025 This story was originally reported by Autoblog on May 29, 2025, where it first appeared.
Engadget
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Engadget
Tesla says it has been testing driverless Model Ys in Austin for 'several days'
Tesla's robotaxi service has started testing in Austin without drivers in advance of its promised June launch, according to the company. "For the past several days, Tesla has been testing self-driving Model Y cars (no on in driver's seat) on Austin public streets with no incidents," CEO Elon Musk posted on X. "A month ahead of schedule." Earlier this year, Tesla promised to launch its robotaxi service sometime in June, using an internal fleet of 10 to 20 Model Ys operating in a limited, geo-fenced part of Austin with remote human assistance. The level of human assistance (teleoperation) isn't clear, but there are fears based on Tesla's recent history that human operators may be used to cover up any technical deficiencies in Tesla's self-driving vehicles. A recent Bloomberg report was more specific about the launch date with paid customers, putting it at June 12. However, reports earlier this month indicated that Tesla had yet to even start testing without drivers as of mid-May, so it would only have a few weeks of testing before a commercial launch. On top of that, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is still in the dark about many details around the service. "The agency would like to gather additional information about Tesla's development of technologies for use in 'robotaxi' vehicles to understand how Tesla plans to evaluate its vehicles and driving automation technologies for use on public roads," the NHTSA wrote in a May 8 letter to Tesla. That information is key for public safety, because Tesla will only be using camera-based systems and not LiDAR and radar sensors like Waymo and other robotaxi operators. In a recent analyst call, Elon Musk said that the Model Y robotaxi vehicles would be the same as Model Y vehicles sold to the public. "There's no change to it," Musk said (before being contradicted by Tesla's Autopilot software director). No other details were released, but the upcoming service is certainly of critical importance to the automaker given flagging Tesla EV sales, particularly in Europe. CEO Elon Musk famously staked the future of Tesla on robotaxis, reportedly even canceling a budget EV to focus on that service.
Ya Libnan
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Ya Libnan
Tesla's Robotaxi service is coming to Austin on June 12: Report
File Tesla Model Y which will be used for Robotaxi service in Austin , TX starting June 12 By: Suvrat Kothari A new chapter in Tesla's story is set to begin in a few days as the automaker pivots away from its core passenger vehicle business towards self-driving taxis and artificial intelligence. After years of promises, Tesla will begin its driverless ride-hailing service in Austin, Texas, on June 12, Bloomberg reported on Wednesday citing a person familiar with the matter. We knew that self-driving Tesla taxis were coming to Austin in June, but this is the first time that a publication has reported a final date on when that actually might happen. CEO Elon Musk previously said that Tesla would begin its robotaxi service with only about 10 Model Ys ferrying passengers around the 'safest areas of Austin' in the beginning, followed by a cautious and gradual increase in the number of deployed vehicles. The service won't immediately be available to the public, but instead be offered to an 'invite-only' group of riders. However, Musk reiterated in an interview with CNBC recently that Tesla plans to scale to thousands of robotaxis 'within a few months' and then expand to other cities depending on how fast the permits are granted. It's worth noting that Musk has himself previously acknowledged that he tends to be overly optimistic with timelines and targets. The State of Texas has relatively simple rules around autonomous vehicles. The rules state that 'AVs must adhere to the same regulations as cars in which a driver is present (e.g., insurance, registration). State law also requires AVs to comply with all traffic laws.' Austin has formed a task force to collect information about incidents and communicate with AV operators. As of the time of publication, the city of Austin has not listed Tesla as an AV operator. In the initial phase of the rollout, Tesla is expected to employ remote human operators . The automaker has been hiring 'teleoperations' specialists who can intervene remotely, sitting thousands of miles away in California, if the vehicle encounters complex traffic situations. We'll see how effective this approach will be, especially after the company scales up. Tesla will also compete with Waymo, which recently began its robotaxi service in Austin with Jaguar I-Pace EVs and is now clocking over 250,000 driverless rides per week across four U.S. cities, including San Francisco, Phoenix and Los Angeles. Tesla, however, says that it can scale up faster than its rivals because it already has millions of cars on the road equipped with the Full-Self Driving (FSD) software. However, the true safety of Tesla's camera- and AI-based system is yet to be proven on a large scale as FSD's safety data isn't publicly available yet. And Tesla's advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) have been linked to hundreds of crashes and multiple fatalities. Inside
Miami Herald
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
Elon Musk says he is ‘paranoid' about this issue; he's right to be
Tesla (TSLA) has been preparing for this moment for years. Since CEO Elon Musk first mentioned robotaxis in 2016, fans of the electric vehicle brand have been waiting for the ability to earn passive income by using their cars as autonomous cabs. Tesla's Full Self-Driving feature is a state-of-the-art driver assistance feature that has been allowing drivers to travel billions of miles hands-free for years. Related: Elon Musk sends strong message to Tesla stock investors Earlier this year, Tesla said that its FSD system has driven a cumulative total of 3.6 billion miles, nearly triple the 1.3 billion cumulative miles it reported a year ago. But despite the program's sustained success, Musk recently admitted that he is "extremely paranoid " about the robotaxi launch scheduled for Austin this summer. While Tesla recently killed its Cybercab concept, the company plans to test Model Ys already on the road as part of its robotaxi program. "It's prudent for us to start with a small number, confirm that things are going well, and then scale it up," Musk told CNBC's David Faber. Tesla plans to start off with just 10 robotaxis and then go from there. But even if Tesla pulls off that test run without any issues, expansion will be difficult. Image source: vanOnce it proves its concept in Austin, Tesla plans to expand the robotaxi program to Los Angeles and San Francisco soon after. California was Tesla's old stomping grounds before Musk moved the company's HQ to Austin in 2021 due to what he said were arduous regulatory practices, which may have to do with the company's operation during the Covid pandemic. With Tesla's plan to expand in the state, Musk will be heading back into that regulatory environment, except now the rules governing autonomous driving are much stricter. Related: Elon Musk confirms Tesla's summer plans In April, the California Department of Motor Vehicles announced that it is seeking public comment on proposed regulations for self-driving vehicles. The agency told CNBC that it wants California to "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." The new rules would require companies like Tesla to obtain a permit for testing with a human safety driver on board and complete a certain number of test-drive hours. They would then need to obtain a different permit for driverless vehicles. Citizens have until June 9 to submit their comments to the DMV before it schedules a public hearing. More Tesla news: Analyst slashes Tesla price target for an unexpected reasonGeneral Motors is set to overtake Tesla in one key areaTesla, Elon Musk make drastic decision amid U.S.-China trade war In October, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 1777 into law, giving the California DMV more leeway to adjust operational permits and allowing law enforcement to cite autonomous vehicle companies for noncompliance if there is an issue on the roads. When Musk and Tesla left California, it wasn't on the best of terms. Of course, the company still operates its original facility in Fremont, California. But while Musk was moving Tesla's official headquarters, he took many shots at the state and its government. The California DMV is already very familiar with Tesla and its Full Self-Driving technology. In 2022, the DMV made an official inquiry into Tesla's FSD marketing, with their main issue being Tesla's use of the term "Autopilot" to describe the software. Tesla fought for years to keep the case out of court, but a judge in 2024 ruled that the case could go forward. Tesla now says in its advertising that Autopilot and FSD require supervision. Between his public spats with Newsom, his history with the California DMV, and the state's new stricter regulations on autonomous driving, Musk and Tesla have a lot of work to do to make their expansion dreams a reality. Related: Veteran fund manager unveils eye-popping S&P 500 forecast The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
Time of India
19-05-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
You thought Tesla was out? Think again — Model Y becomes the best-selling model in this country, giving Elon Musk a reason to smile
Model Y Surpasses Longtime Favorites in Norway A Bright Spot Amid Challenges for Tesla Live Events Elon Musk Remains Optimistic Norway: Leading the EV Revolution FAQs (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel In a big win for Tesla and the goal to shift to electric vehicles in Norway, the Model Y is the best-selling car in Norway, as per a to the TCD report, more than 70,000 Model Ys have been registered in Norway as of April. That places the Tesla Model Y over the long-time favourite Toyota RAV4, Nissan Leaf, Volkswagen Golf, and Toyota Yaris, to solidify its position as Norway's number-one car, according to the the latest victory for the Model Y, which has dominated Norway's auto market for three consecutive years, as per TCD report. Tesla also broke the record for most cars sold in a single year in the country in 2023, by surpassing the Volkswagen Beetle's 54-year-old record, according to the READ: Jensanity at its peak: Taiwanese fans are super excited as Nvidia CEO and AI hero Jensen Huang visits the country; here's why he's there While, the Model Y's performance in Norway provides a spark of optimism to the EVmaker as the company has been facing a challenging time in the past few months, as per the TCD report. Tesla had even reported poor first-quarter financial results, and its stock price and global sales numbers have fallen due to CEO Elon Musk's political involvement and increased competition in the EV market, according to the the roadblocks, Musk has been optimistic about the EV giant's future, during an April investor call, he said, "We've gone through many, many crises over the years and actually been through many near-death experiences," adding, "This is not one of those times. We're not on the ragged edge of death, not even close. … I remain extremely optimistic about the future of the company," quoted TCD READ: Reports say Jamie Dimon's time as JPMorgan CEO is winding down; investors say, "Don't go" However, it's not just the achievement of Model Y as Norway has also become the global model for getting electric vehicles on the road, reported TCD. The Scandinavian country has swiftly embraced EVs and is aiming to have all new car sales to be electric vehicles by this year, as per the report. The country has encouraged car buyers to shift to electric by offering rebates and providing many public charging stations, TCD 70,000 Model Ys have been registered as of April 2025, as per TCD Model Y has been Norway's top-selling car for three straight years.
