Tesla Launches Robotaxi Service in South Austin with Flat $4.20 Fare
Elon Musk has unveiled Tesla's Robotaxi service in South Austin, marking the company's first real-world test of fully autonomous vehicles. Priced at a flat $4.20 per ride, the service relies solely on cameras and AI, bypassing the LiDAR systems used by competitors like Waymo.
The rollout, teased for months on X, became reality on Sunday with Model Y robotaxis spotted cruising the city. Early access was granted to a select group of users, many of whom are prominent Tesla supporters on social media.
Tesla is starting modestly with just 10 vehicles operating in a limited area of South Austin. Each ride includes a safety monitor in the front seat, though their level of control remains unspecified. Service runs daily from 6:00 a.m. to midnight, weather permitting.
