Tesla's Robotaxis Are Real, Just Don’t Blink or They Might Vanish Again

Elon Musk has finally delivered on his decade-long promise of robotaxis — and by “delivered,” we mean a carefully staged fleet of about 10 Teslas puttering around a small part of Austin, Texas, with influencers in the front seat and a $4.20 fare that screams definitely not a marketing stunt. Reuters has the full story if you're into facts and caution.

This “launch,” breathlessly declared by Musk on X (because where else?), features Teslas with no one behind the wheel — just a “safety monitor” riding shotgun like it’s a haunted Uber. The rollout is strictly limited to good weather, simple intersections, and no passengers under 18, which coincidentally rules out most of Austin nightlife and anyone with a sense of adventure.

Naturally, the robotaxis run only on Tesla’s camera-based system, because Elon thinks lidar and radar are for cowards. Never mind that the rest of the self-driving industry has been faceplanting into reality using all the sensors they can strap on. Musk’s bet? Less tech, more vibes.

Meanwhile, Texas lawmakers rushed to regulate autonomous vehicles after the party started, in a move best described as “retroactive adult supervision.” Starting in September, companies will need a permit to operate robotaxis — one that’s apparently “easy to get, easy to lose,” which coincidentally describes Tesla’s relationship with safety standards over the years.

A Carnegie Mellon professor called this “the end of the beginning.” Which is polite academic speak for: wake me when it scales beyond a half-dozen joyrides to influencer bars.

So yes, the robotaxi dream is technically alive. Just make sure you’re in Austin, have exact change for $4.20, don’t mind riding next to a human babysitter, and don’t expect it to rain.