Latest news with #Tesla-related
Time of India
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
Elon Musk's Tesla gets green signal to operate Robotaxi service in Texas despite security concerns
Elon Musk-led Tesla has received a permit to operate its Robotaxi service in Austin, Texas. This permit will allow the company to run a ride-hailing business with cars integrated with the automated driving system and even compete with companies like Uber and Lyft. The permit was issued this week despite previous reports of the vehicles disobeying traffic rules. According to a listing on the website of the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) (as seen by CNBC), Tesla Robotaxi LLC is now licensed as a ' transportation network company ' in Texas until August 6, 2026. The TDLR has also confirmed that this permit will enable Tesla to operate a ride-hailing business anywhere in the state, including with "automated motor vehicles," and does not require a human safety driver or valet to be on board. This comes after Tesla robotaxis were reportedly captured on camera disobeying traffic laws in and around Austin during the company's pilot program. Although these incidents have not been reported as causing injuries or significant property damage, they have attracted federal scrutiny. Tesla gets Robotaxi permit in Texas: What we know so far Earlier this year, the EV company began offering a limited ride-hailing service in Austin, which was available only to invited participants. Most of these riders have been social media influencers and analysts, many of whom earn income by creating Tesla-related content on platforms such as X and YouTube. The Austin fleet comprises Model Y vehicles fitted with Tesla's latest partially automated driving technology. Each ride includes a valet, or human safety supervisor, in the front passenger seat to step in if needed. The cars are also monitored remotely by staff at an operations centre. On Tesla's earnings call last month, Musk—who has described himself as 'pathologically optimistic'—said he believes the company could reach half of the US population with autonomous ride-hailing services by the end of 2025. However, there have been multiple reports about Tesla Robotaxi 'misbehaving' on the road. In one incident, Tesla content creator Joe Tegtmeyer said his robotaxi did not stop for a train crossing signal and lowering gate arm, prompting a Tesla employee on board to step in. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has also spoken with Tesla about the matter, a spokesperson for the agency told CNBC via email.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
Elon Musk's Tesla gets green signal to operate Robotaxi service in Texas despite security concerns
Representative Image Elon Musk-led Tesla has received a permit to operate its Robotaxi service in Austin, Texas. This permit will allow the company to run a ride-hailing business with cars integrated with the automated driving system and even compete with companies like Uber and Lyft. The permit was issued this week despite previous reports of the vehicles disobeying traffic rules. According to a listing on the website of the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) (as seen by CNBC), Tesla Robotaxi LLC is now licensed as a 'transportation network company' in Texas until August 6, 2026. The TDLR has also confirmed that this permit will enable Tesla to operate a ride-hailing business anywhere in the state, including with "automated motor vehicles," and does not require a human safety driver or valet to be on board. This comes after Tesla robotaxis were reportedly captured on camera disobeying traffic laws in and around Austin during the company's pilot program. Although these incidents have not been reported as causing injuries or significant property damage, they have attracted federal scrutiny. Tesla gets Robotaxi permit in Texas: What we know so far Earlier this year, the EV company began offering a limited ride-hailing service in Austin, which was available only to invited participants. Most of these riders have been social media influencers and analysts, many of whom earn income by creating Tesla-related content on platforms such as X and YouTube. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like How AI is redefining the future of work CIO | HP, AMD Undo The Austin fleet comprises Model Y vehicles fitted with Tesla's latest partially automated driving technology. Each ride includes a valet, or human safety supervisor, in the front passenger seat to step in if needed. The cars are also monitored remotely by staff at an operations centre. On Tesla's earnings call last month, Musk—who has described himself as 'pathologically optimistic'—said he believes the company could reach half of the US population with autonomous ride-hailing services by the end of 2025. However, there have been multiple reports about Tesla Robotaxi 'misbehaving' on the road. In one incident, Tesla content creator Joe Tegtmeyer said his robotaxi did not stop for a train crossing signal and lowering gate arm, prompting a Tesla employee on board to step in. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has also spoken with Tesla about the matter, a spokesperson for the agency told CNBC via email. Can These AI Glasses Replace Your Phone? Ray-Ban Meta Glasses Tested
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Grok is coming to Tesla vehicles ‘next week,' says Elon Musk
Elon Musk said in a post on X early Thursday morning that Grok, the chatbot from his AI company, xAI, will be coming to Tesla vehicles 'very soon.' 'Next week at the latest,' he said. The news that Grok would be coming to Tesla vehicles soon comes several hours after xAI debuted the latest flagship AI model Grok 4. Fans had wondered loudly why Musk spent an hour late on Wednesday talking about Grok with no mention of a Tesla integration, which likely prompted the billionaire's early morning announcement. The update also comes as adjustments to Grok have made the chatbot more prone to misbehavior – including making anti-semitic comments, slating the Democrats, and even rape threats. X took down Grok temporarily on Wednesday to attempt to solve the problem. Musk is known for making Tesla-related announcements on X, the social media platform he owns, oftentimes before he even tells his own engineers. In this case, they might have seen it coming. Musk has teased that Grok would end up in Tesla vehicles as an AI assistant for months, saying that Tesla drivers would be able to chat conversationally with their cars and ask Grok to perform certain tasks. While poking around in Tesla's firmware, a hacker who goes by the name 'green' last week found that drivers can choose between certain Grok 'personalities,' including ones that are NSFW (not safe for work). There seem to be a lot of personalities to choose from, including argumentative, conspiracy, kids story, sexy, therapist, unhinged, and more. Green's findings also suggest that Grok will only be available on newer vehicles with Hardware 3. Grok will also be the voice and brain for Tesla's humanoid robot Optimus, Musk confirmed recently.
Indian Express
06-07-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
‘Musk should focus on business, not politics,' says Trump aide
A day after Elon Musk announced a new political party and criticised President Donald Trump's tax and spending bill, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Musk should focus on leading his companies rather than entering politics. Speaking to CNN on Sunday, Bessent said the boards at Musk's companies Tesla and SpaceX would likely be concerned about his political plans. 'I imagine that those boards of directors did not like this announcement yesterday and will be encouraging him to focus on his business activities, not his political activities,' Bessent said, according to Reuters. Musk announced the creation of the 'America Party' on Saturday, saying it was in response to Trump's recently signed tax and spending law. Musk argued that the law would lead the US towards bankruptcy. He also said the party would try to unseat Republican lawmakers who supported the bill in next year's midterm elections. Musk had previously been close to Trump, donating heavily to his re-election and serving briefly as an adviser on government reform. But their relationship changed after Musk opposed the new legislation, which cuts taxes and increases spending on defence and border security. The bill passed last week along party lines. President Trump has said Musk is upset because the law removes tax credits for electric vehicles, which affects Tesla. He has also threatened to review the billions of dollars in government contracts and subsidies that Tesla and SpaceX receive. In his remarks, Bessent downplayed Musk's influence on the public. 'The principles of DOGE were very popular,' he said. 'I think if you looked at the polling, Elon was not.' Musk's political move also received pushback from investors. Azoria Partners, an investment firm that had planned to launch a Tesla-related exchange-traded fund (ETF) this week, said it would delay the launch because of concerns about Musk's new role in politics. Azoria CEO James Fishback criticised Musk on X , writing, 'I encourage the Board to meet immediately and ask Elon to clarify his political ambitions and evaluate whether they are compatible with his full-time obligations to Tesla as CEO.' On Sunday, Fishback added: 'Elon left us with no other choice.' Elon has gone too far. My investment firm (@InvestAzoria) has decided to postpone next week's public listing of our Azoria Tesla Convexity ETF. Our decision comes in direct response to @ElonMusk's announcement that he is launching a new national political party. This creates… — James Fishback (@j_fishback) July 6, 2025 Musk has not publicly responded to the investor criticism. The White House did not comment on Musk's announcement. But Stephen Miran, head of Trump's Council of Economic Advisers, defended the president's tax and spending plan on ABC's This Week. 'The one, big, beautiful bill is going to create growth on turbo charge,' Miran said. Musk's America Party has not released detailed plans yet, but his comments suggest he wants to challenge Republican incumbents in next year's elections who backed Trump's economic policies.
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Lipstick vandalism? The latest Boise-area attack on a Tesla involved makeup
A 2024 Tesla Cybertruck was given an extreme makeover about 1:50 p.m. Wednesday in the Boise area, after a vandal smeared lipstick across the truck's stainless steel surface. The suspect, who was seen arriving in a red sedan, is suspected of causing an estimated $500 worth of damage to the vehicle, according to a news release from the Meridian Police Department. Police reported that they had identified a suspect by Friday afternoon. The lipstick was used to draw on the side of the Tesla Cybertruck, but what was drawn and the shade of lipstick were not disclosed in the news release. This crime comes amid a long string of Tesla-related vandalisms, one of which occurred in April and involved $100,000 in damages after an individual vandalized vehicles and property at the Tesla dealership in Meridian. The FBI was contacted during that incident. In a survey of more than 500 Tesla owners, conducted by Guardian Service, an online insurer, it was determined that nearly half reported instances of intentional damage to their vehicle. Moreover, as tensions continue to rise between those who own Tesla cars and those who oppose Elon Musk, nearly three-fourths of Tesla owners who responded feel as though they are more likely to be victims of targeted vehicle-related vandalism than those who don't drive Teslas.
