Tesla launches robotaxi testing in Texas

Tesla has officially begun testing its robo-taxi service in Austin, Texas. Several of the autonomous, driverless cars have begun ferrying passengers for pay — a first for the company. Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced the "launch of the robo-taxi" on social media X, calling the event "the culmination of a decade of hard work."

The test involves about 10 Tesla cars, each carrying passengers in the front seat under the supervision of a human-shaped “safety monitor.” The service is initially available by invitation only. The company has yet to announce a general launch date.

Videos of the trips are already being shared on social media by influencers. For example, blogger Sawyer Merritt showed how he called a robotaxi through a special Tesla app and got to a restaurant. The fare was a symbolic $4.20.

Experts note that even if Tesla is technically successful, serious challenges lie ahead. According to Reuters, citing Professor Philip Koopman of Carnegie Mellon University, the development of the robotaxi market in the United States could take years or even decades. Koopman emphasizes that the launch of the test is only “the end of the beginning.”

Ahead of the testing, Texas passed a new law to regulate autonomous vehicles. The law, signed by Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, will take effect on Sept. 1 and requires companies to obtain special permits to operate self-driving vehicles. It also allows authorities to revoke permits if there is a safety risk and requires emergency services to provide instructions on how to operate autonomous vehicles.

In addition, the cars must have at least level four autonomy — that is, be able to move without a driver in certain conditions. Tesla said it aims to make the service safe: the cars will only operate in certain areas, avoid complex intersections, will not carry passengers under 18 years of age, and will not operate in bad weather.

Tesla also stands out from competitors like Waymo and Cruise because it relies solely on cameras, without more expensive LiDAR or Radar systems. Musk believes this approach reduces costs while ensuring safety. But it's controversial, as most companies in this space add multiple types of sensors for reliability.

So, the launch of robo-taxi in Texas is an important but only initial step. Tesla still has a lot of technical, legal and commercial challenges to overcome before autonomous transportation becomes commonplace.