Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (Supervised) system, along with its ambitious claims, has repeatedly drawn the company into controversy, and it now faces yet another round. The company is once again facing legal trouble, this time after a U.S. District Judge in California ruled that Tesla must answer a certified class action alleging it misled drivers about the self-driving abilities of its vehicles. Tesla had argued the case should be dismissed, but the court disagreed.

Read: Musk’s Robotaxi Pitch Just Backfired And Shareholders Are Suing

The automaker has consistently promoted the idea that all vehicles it built since 2016 came equipped with hardware capable of full self-driving, albeit under supervision. These assurances were made across Tesla’s website, blog posts, social media channels, and directly by chief executive Elon Musk.

In practice, though, the cars have not lived up to those promises. Tesla also asserted that vehicles with its Full Self-Driving package would eventually deliver Level 4 and Level 5 autonomy, but neither has materialized.

Judge’s Assessment

U.S. District Judge Rita Lin noted that claims about Tesla vehicles lacking the necessary hardware for autonomous driving, combined with the company’s failure to “demonstrate a long-distance autonomous drive with any of its vehicles,” provide grounds for lawsuits brought by two groups of drivers.

Tesla does not engage in typical mass advertising, and the Judge noted that ordinarily, the channels it used to promote its self-driving hardware and software may not be “enough to establish a class-wide exposure for a traditional car manufacturer.”

However, she said it’s reasonable to infer that class members went to Tesla’s website for information on its Full Self-Driving (Supervised) technology. She added that thousands of people likely saw a claim on Tesla’s website from October 2016 to August 2024 that said its vehicles contained the hardware necessary for fully autonomous driving.

Tesla’s Defense

Tesla countered that it is unreasonable to assume all class members saw those statements. The automaker also argued there is no unified proof showing the claims were significant enough to influence purchasing decisions, according to Reuters.

The class actions in California include drivers who purchased the Full Self-Driving Package from May 19, 2017, to July 31, 2024, and who opted out of Tesla’s arbitration agreement, as well as drivers who purchased the package from October 20, 2016, to May 19, 2017.

In the US, Tesla’s arbitration clause requires all disputes to be resolved through arbitration rather than in court, unless a purchaser or lessee opts out of the clause within 30 days of buying or leasing a Tesla vehicle.

While a number of companies are focused on robotaxis, Tensor has unveiled the first “fully autonomous L4 robocar that you can own.” That’s a bold claim from a company that can’t seem to cobble together a proper press kit, so forgive us if we’re a little hesitant to hand over the keys to our survival.

From the hodgepodge of information that the company released, we can see their robocar is actually a “luxury crossover SUV” that looks like a bloated Toyota Prius. It features an awkward-looking front end with sensors and SignalScreens. The latter are used to communicate with other road users via CarMoji.

More: GM Doubling Down On Autonomous Driving Efforts

Moving further back, we can see streamlined bodywork, aerodynamic wheels, and digital side mirrors that help the model to have a drag coefficient of 0.253. The robocar also sports double-laminated glass as well as rear coach doors for easy entry and egress. Speaking of the doors, they have PalmRead technology that allows people to access the vehicle without keys or their phone.

In terms of size, the robocar measures 217.5 inches (5,525 mm) long, 89 inches (2,261 mm) wide, and 78.3 inches (1,989 mm) tall with a wheelbase that spans 124 inches (3,150 mm). This means the model is significantly larger than other electric crossover such as the Cadillac Vistiq and Tesla Model X.

A Transforming Cabin

The interior looks basic, but it’s notable for having retractable pedals and a retractable steering wheel. When the latter is tucked into the dash, a display slides over so it’s in front of the ‘driver.’

Speaking of screens, there’s a front passenger display as well as a dual-screen rear entertainment system. Tensor also said the model comes nicely equipped with a heated steering wheel as well as heated, ventilated, and massaging seats. Other highlights include suede and fabric upholstery, a 128-color ambient lighting system, and dual wireless smartphone chargers.

While the interior is pretty bland, the company claims the model is the “world’s first AI agentic car” and goes “far beyond a basic voice assistant.” In particular, they said an “AI agent continuously processes data from in-cabin cameras, microphones, and other sensors.” The company claims this will enable owners to say something along the lines of “Pick up Mom from her house and bring her here” or “Drop me off at the airport and then return home.”

Despite all the monitoring equipment, Tensor said they’re focused on privacy and all data is processed and stored locally. However, they noted “users can access their data via the end-to-end encrypted smartphone app” and, let’s face it, anything connected to the internet isn’t 100% safe. On the bright side, if you’re concerned about privacy and security, there are physical camera covers and microphone off switches.

Electric And Autonomous

Powertrain details are sparse as the company said the model is an EV with a 112 kWh battery pack. When the battery is low, it can go from a 20% to 80% charge in as little as 10 minutes. Tensor also mentioned the crossover has four-wheel steering and an air suspension.

The real star is the Level 4 autonomous driving technology that allows the vehicle to “operate entirely without driver input under defined conditions.” This is enabled by over 100 sensors including 37 cameras, 5 lidars, 11 radars, 22 microphones, 10 ultrasonic sensors, 3 IMUs, GNSS, 16 collision detectors, 8 water-level detectors, 4 tire-pressure sensors, and 1 smoke detector.

Of course, if you prefer to drive yourself, you can still take the wheel and operate it like any other car.

Since the robocar is designed for normal people who won’t spend time prepping it for every journey, Tensor had to develop a way to protect and clean the various sensors. As a result, there’s an intelligent cleaning system with dedicated wipers and nozzles as well as protective sensor covers that deploy when the vehicle is not in use. The car also has self-diagnosis to ensure everything is in working order.

The sensors feed data to an onboard supercomputer with 8,000 TOPs. There’s also a “dual-system AI” that “mirrors human cognition.” The company said, “System 1 delivers fast, reflexive responses through imitation learning from expert drivers, while System 2 uses a sophisticated multimodal Visual Language Model to reason through rare and complex edge cases.” The end result is supposedly confident navigation even in rain or fog.

Tensor went on to say their “advanced electrical and electronic architecture delivers full-stack redundancy – across power, communications, and control – ensuring fail-operational performance in any scenario.”

Could Arrive As Early As Next Year

While a number of questions remain, the company has partnered with VinFast, who will build the robocar at their Hai Phong factory in Vietnam. If everything goes according to plan, the first deliveries will occur in the second half of 2026 and the model will be offered in Europe, the United States, and the United Arab Emirates.

Lastly, the company has partnered with Marsh to offer the “world’s first insurance policy for robocars.” This promises to deliver cheap rates as “data shows that L4 autonomous vehicles are safer, and your insurance premiums should reflect that.”

New York City is probably the worst place to drive a car in all of America. The area is so densely packed with people, cyclists, mopeds, and other cars that getting around can be genuinely panic-inducing for some. That’s the environment that Tesla wants to tackle with its autonomous driving tech. It seems that step one is openly hiring testers so that it can sort out how to handle the city.

The job listing on Tesla’s site for a ‘Vehicle Operator, Autopilot,’ includes the option of three shifts, day, afternoon, or night, with pay ranging from $25.25 to $30.60 an hour depending on position level. It comes with full benefits and is a full-time gig out of Flushing, New York.

A hands-on approach

Those hired on will drive what Tesla calls an engineering vehicle “for extended periods, conducting dynamic audio and camera data collection for testing and training purposes.”

Read: Rapper Fakes Video Claiming Tesla Deactivated His Cybertruck

The automaker expects the eventual hire to start and stop recording devices, perform minor equipment and software debugging, analyze data, provide feedback, write detailed daily drive reports, and most importantly, ensure the vehicle’s safety and operational status before every shift.

In other words, it appears as though the employee will have to be very focused throughout the day of driving, regardless of how much autonomy the car itself gets.

CNBC reports that Tesla hasn’t applied for a permit to test autonomous vehicles in the state. Notably, NYC officials confirmed that any company that does get a permit still needs a safety driver behind the wheel at all times. That could explain what Tesla is ultimately aiming for here.

Following a familiar playbook

After all, it’s already doing something similar in San Francisco, where it doesn’t have a permit to run an autonomous fleet. Instead, it has a safety driver in the driver’s seat and calls the service a ride-hailing operation.

Notably, all of this falls well within line with Elon Musk’s proclamation earlier this year that by 2026, half of the US would have access to Robotaxi. 

Robotaxi doesn’t flinch at weekend traffic https://t.co/hkZPWSn7hx

— Tesla Robotaxi (@robotaxi) July 20, 2025

Self-driving cars are inching closer to mainstream use, and a recent regulatory milestone marks a significant step forward for one of the sector’s key players. Autonomous vehicle developer Zoox has received a notable exemption from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), officially certifying its vehicles for demonstration use.

Read: Zoox Robotaxis Could Eventually Become Part Of Amazon Prime

The decision represents a meaningful win for the Amazon-owned company and comes just as a federal investigation into its past regulatory compliance comes to a close.

In 2022, the NHTSA opened a probe into Zoox vehicles to see if they’d met federal safety requirements after being self-certified without having any traditional driving controls. Recently, Zoox applied for an exemption from a few NHTSA requirements, and it has now been approved.

A Shift in Policy for US-Based AV Companies

The exemption has been issued through the expanded Automated Vehicle Exemption Program and forms an important part of the Transport Secretary Sean P. Duffy’s Innovation Agenda, which aims to promote US technology and safety. Previously, foreign autonomous vehicles had been eligible for exemptions, but not those manufactured in the United States.

Importantly, this could pave the way for other US-based companies to receive similar NHTSA exemptions. Secretary Duffy is particularly eager to grow America’s autonomous vehicle capabilities, and this could prove to be a pivotally important way to do so.

“This is a win-win for safety and innovation. Under the leadership of President Trump, U.S. companies like Zoox have a process to create and test their latest technologies. America – not China – can and will drive the future of self-driving cars forward,” Duffy said.

Next Steps for Zoox

Despite the exemption, Zoox will need to revise or remove previous claims suggesting its purpose-built vehicles already complied with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. The updated certification allows testing under the exemption, but not without an adjustment in public messaging.

The NHTSA has been keeping a close eye on Zoox. In May 2024, it opened a probe into the company’s vehicles following two rear-end collisions and a braking-related recall. In May, Zoox also had to recall 270 vehicles shortly after a robotaxi was involved in a crash in Las Vegas.

Tesla’s Robotaxi service may have generated plenty of headlines since launching in a geofenced area of Austin recently, but soon, Waymo will be adding a second Texas city to its program. Already providing more than 250,000 paid trips in Austin and other major US cities every week, Waymo will launch in Dallas next year, showing Tesla a thing or two about how to run a successful robotaxi service.

Rather than going it alone, Waymo is leveraging the operational scale and expertise of Avis to help ensure smooth day-to-day management as it enters a new market. The rental giant will help to manage its fleet operations, as well as infrastructure, vehicle maintenance, and general depot operations.

Read: Tech Founder Predicts The End Of Driving For Your Kids And Maybe You Too

“We look forward to bringing our fully autonomous ride-hailing service to the people of Dallas next year, offering a new era of safe and seamless transportation,” Waymo co-chief executive Tekedra Mawakana said. “Working together with our fleet partner Avis, Waymo will offer more riders a stress-free way to get around.”

The self-driving car division of Alphabet didn’t disclose how much of Dallas will be covered by its robotaxi service. Nevertheless, Waymo says it is confident it can contribute to Dallas’s Vision Zero goal of eliminating all traffic-related deaths and reducing severe injury crashes by 50 percent by 2030.

“We are excited that fully autonomous ride-hailing services are scheduled to begin in Dallas next year,” Dallas city manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert added. “The Waymo and Avis partnership will offer an innovative, technology-based transportation option for our residents and visitors.  We look forward to the launch of this new service.”

Dallas won’t be the end of Waymo’s expansion. The company is reportedly considering launching in Houston and San Antonio in the future. It could also expand into San Diego, Boston, and New York. According to ABC News, Waymo is also eyeing Tokyo as the first market outside of the US for its robotaxis.

Tesla is facing mounting regulatory pressure in California as it prepares to defend how it markets its Autopilot and Full Self-Driving features. The hearing, set for next week, stems from earlier claims by the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) that the company misled consumers about the true capabilities of its driver-assistance systems.

The outcome could have significant consequences for Tesla’s business in California, as regulators are weighing whether to suspend or revoke the company’s dealer license, which authorizes it to sell vehicles in the state.

More: Tesla Penalized Over A Word In Driver Assistance Tests And It Could Cost Them More Than A Score

The case dates back to July 2022, when the California DMV alleged that Tesla overstated what its Autopilot and Full Self-Driving systems could do. According to the complaint, marketing materials gave the impression that Tesla vehicles were “able to conduct short and long-distance trips with no action required in the driver’s seat.”

Hearing Could Affect Tesla’s Operations in California

In June 2025, a California judge declined to dismiss the claims, ordering Tesla to appear before an administrative law judge in Oakland. The five-day hearing is set to begin Monday. As reported by Bloomberg, the regulator is seeking to suspend or revoke Tesla’s dealer license in California, putting the company’s ability to sell vehicles in the state at risk.

Tesla’s legal team argues that the contested marketing language is protected under free speech, and that statements about the company’s autonomous driving capabilities were taken out of context – omitting the disclaimers and warnings that the Autopilot requires “active driver supervision.”

Robotaxi Ambitions Add to the Stakes

At the same time, Tesla is seeking regulatory approval to expand its robotaxi program in San Francisco. If granted, a fleet of Tesla Model Y vehicles would operate autonomously, albeit with human supervision and within a geo-fenced area, The move would place Tesla in direct competition with Waymo, which already provides similar services in the city.

Separate Trial in Florida Raises Broader Safety Questions

Meanwhile, Tesla is embroiled in a jury trial in Miami over a 2019 crash involving a Tesla Model S that struck and killed a pedestrian. The jury must decide whether Tesla’s Autopilot system shares blame with the vehicle’s distracted driver. Similar fatal crashes involving Autopilot are under regulatory investigation, with more trials expected in the coming years.

In the Miami trial, the plaintiffs called engineering professor and former Navy pilot Mary “Missy” Cummings as an expert witness. She criticized the Autopilot branding, saying it creates unrealistic expectations based on its aviation counterpart.

More: This City Could Be Tesla’s Toughest Robotaxi Challenge Yet

“It engenders a lot more inappropriate confidence in the car, because autopilot is such a good technology in aviation,” Cummings said. “Somehow, we feel like that is going to translate to a really effective tech in the car.” She added that the term leads to “a mismatch in the consumer’s head.”

Tesla maintains that remarks about autonomous driving without human involvement are “future-facing” and “don’t reflect the current technology”. The Tesla Autopilot is currently classified as a Level 2 ADAS, as it requires continuous driver supervision. Elon Musk has repeatedly predicted that Tesla would reach full autonomy (Level 5), but these goals have not materiliazed

Tesla

The Lucid Air is already one of the best EVs on the market, combining luxury with performance in a way that legacy automakers have struggled to compete with. Now, Lucid’s suite of advanced driver assistance systems is getting a major update, bringing with it hands-free driving assist and lane change assist systems.

Read: This $110K EV Refuses To Let Its Owner In And That’s Not Even The Worst Part

For owners of the flagship Air Sapphire, that means they’ll soon be able to hand over the reins to computers to control one of the world’s quickest cars. Now that’s a scary thought.

These updates will be introduced through an over-the-air software update scheduled to roll out on July 30 for all Lucid Air models equipped with the DreamDrive Pro suite. This system makes use of a LiDAR, radar, visible-light cameras, surround-view cameras, and ultrasonic sensors to make driving that little bit easier.

Lucid says drivers will be able to use the hands-free driving feature and hands-free lane changes on compatible divided highways. However, it hasn’t specified what exactly makes a divided highway “compatible” for use with the system. The new features will be rolled out to the Lucid Gravity later in the year.

Several other car manufacturers have introduced hands-free driving modes for their ADAS systems, including Ford, GM, and Mercedes-Benz. Hands-free lane change features are also becoming more commonplace, and in the Lucid Air, drivers simply need to flick on the turn signal before the car itself will determine if it’s safe to change lanes. If it is, the car will smoothly glide into the next lane.  

“The addition of these features to Lucid’s DreamDrive Pro offers a glimpse into the future that Lucid is building with the impressive capabilities of our software-defined vehicles,” Lucid’s ADAS and AD vice president, Kai Stepper, said. “With our in-house software stack, a comprehensive suite of 32 sensors, and regular OTA updates, we have a roadmap to continue to deliver significantly more functionality to our owners in the future.”

Lucid Air owners who didn’t opt for the DreamDrive Pro system may now regret their decision. Unlike Tesla’s Full Self-Driving system, which has recently cost upwards of $8,000, Lucid’s system is relatively good value at just $2,500.

Launching a robotaxi service in a major city has long been a benchmark for autonomous driving technology. Last month, Tesla took a step toward that goal by quietly rolling out a small-scale robotaxi program in Austin, Texas.

Although the service remains limited in scope and footage has shown autonomous Model Ys making some questionable moves, Elon Musk already has his sights set on expanding. His next target? The San Francisco Bay Area.

Read: Tesla’s Robotaxi Was Caught Making A Turn It Immediately Regretted

Musk made the announcement on X when asked about a potential expansion into San Francisco. According to the him, Tesla is “waiting on regulatory approvals,” but said the service will “probably [launch] in a month or two.”

In all likelihood, Tesla will adopt a similarly cautious approach in San Francisco as it did in Austin. Currently, the Austin pilot operates within a tightly geofenced area and every vehicle includes a human safety supervisor in the passenger seat. In a recent post on X, Musk said the service’s footprint in Austin will grow this weekend, though he didn’t say how much additional ground it will cover.

San Francisco is likely to prove a more challenging area for Tesla’s self-driving systems. The city is significantly more densely populated and has more challenging roads, largely due to its extreme topography and steep streets.

Stricter Regulations

Unlike Texas, where autonomous services face relatively few restrictions, California enforces tighter oversight. To operate in San Francisco, Tesla will need to secure approvals from both the California Department of Motor Vehicles and the California Public Utilities Commission, according to Reuters.

And with Waymo already running its own robotaxi service in the city for quite some time, Tesla will not only need to navigate regulation but also public perception and direct competition. Earning the trust of San Francisco riders may prove just as crucial as earning the trust of regulators.

Tesla has officially entered the deep waters of robotaxi service but is doing so in its own, distinctive way. The service is very limited as of this writing; it comes with a silent Tesla employee in every front passenger seat and consists of Model Ys that were secretly modified. It’s not exactly what you might think at first, but it’s interesting nonetheless.

Elon Musk has several times mentioned that the Model Ys in Robotaxi service are the same ones that everyday folks can buy. According to a new report, that’s not exactly true, and before anyone asks, no, it doesn’t appear that the Robotaxis have a brake built into the front passenger handle. What they do have is another set of safety measures, though.

More: Tesla’s Robotaxi Was Caught Making A Turn It Immediately Regretted

According to Business Insider, Tesla has a program called Halo that modifies these cars. Every autonomous car gets self-cleaning cameras and additional protection for the cameras to keep them from getting damaged. In addition, they have not one but two telecommunications units built into the car, each providing detailed GPS data and allows Tesla’s remote operators to control the car if needed. That said, it’s worth noting that these modifications aren’t all that odd.

Tesla’s system relies so heavily on camera clarity that keeping lenses safe, clean, and in perfect working order is paramount. In addition, the standard Model Y already comes with a telecommunications unit, so in this case, Tesla is simply doubling up, likely to increase redundancy should one become non-operational.

That's a wrap! In the last 36 hours, I've taken a total of 20 @Tesla Robotaxi rides and traveled 92 miles. No interventions, no critical safety issues. All my rides were smooth and comfortable.

Thank you, Tesla, for letting me be a part of this experience—and congrats to the… pic.twitter.com/VNpSUVMuz6

— Sawyer Merritt (@SawyerMerritt) June 24, 2025

It’ll be interesting to see how the court of public opinion rules out on this one. Will it praise Musk for adding safety measures to the robotaxi program, or will it chastise him for not being 100 percent accurate when he said these cars were identical to the ones that the general public can buy?

Optics aside, does it really matter? What does is that people who take a ride in a Tesla Robotaxi can breathe a little easier knowing that the cars come with extra safety equipment built into them. And we wouldn’t be surprised if, at some point in the not-so-distant future, those features make it into Model Ys that we can actually purchase.

👀What an interesting interaction. A Waymo ended up in the wrong lane, and a Tesla Robotaxi handled it like a pro.

No headlines about this will likely be made by mainstream media, of course.pic.twitter.com/I1Qw2GsIFj

— TESLARATI (@Teslarati) June 26, 2025

While some Democratic lawmakers urged Tesla to delay the rollout of its robotaxi service in Austin, Texas, the program officially kicked off on Sunday. It’s believed that around 12 Tesla Model Y robotaxis have hit the city streets and are operating in a small, geofenced area. And while the vehicles are indeed driving themselves, the company is keeping a light foot on the accelerator when it comes to public exposure.

Read: Tesla’s Robotaxi Launch Comes With Strict Rules And A ‘Safety Monitor’

Videos from early users, mostly influencers, reveal that each Robotaxi comes with a “safety driver” seated in the passenger seat. Yes, the passenger seat. It’s not entirely clear why Tesla made that choice, except maybe to reinforce the optics of a driverless experience.

After all, someone behind the wheel would be a dead giveaway that the system still needs supervision. Putting them in the passenger seat keeps up appearance, technically driverless, but not totally.

Among the first people to use the service were vetted customers who received early-access invitations from Tesla. As reported by TechCrunch, many of these are strong supporters of the Tesla brand. Evidently, the electric car manufacturer doesn’t yet want the general public to experience the service, obviously aware that mistakes or hiccups with the service could instantly draw a lot of criticism.

A $4.20 Ride with a Side of Caution

Early rides are priced at a very on-brand $4.20 flat rate, and the service runs from 6:00 a.m. to midnight, seven days a week, unless bad weather rolls in. In that case, the robotaxis are grounded. Probably a wise move considering even humans struggle with Texas thunderstorms.

The service appears to operate in a very similar way to Waymo’s. Users need to download a specific Robotaxi app and can then order a ride. Once inside, the vehicle’s rear passenger display will display navigation details and the expected arrival time. Additionally, passengers can control the audio through the rear screen.  

For the most part, the system appears to perform quite well, navigating certain roads in South Austin with relative ease. However, one video shared to YouTube by a TechCrunch reporter shows a Model Y Robotaxi unnecessarily braking and coming to a stop twice, after passing several parked police cars at a nearby crime scene.

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June 22 is the day when Tesla says it’ll launch its Robotaxi service for early access customers. Invitations are going out to many of them, and those invites include more details. Among them are the rules for riders and the fact that a Tesla employee will be along for every ride as a “safety monitor” in the passenger seat. Here’s everything you need to know about Tesla’s Robotaxi launch.

More: Tesla’s First Robotaxi Caught Driving Itself Just Before June 22 Launch

We’ve seen Tesla testing its Robotaxi in Austin, Texas, already. It turns out that much of what we saw there will be repeated for the launch of this new early access program. That includes the use of a Model Y for part of the fleet and a human in the front passenger seat.

The Fine Print

Over the last few days, Tesla has started the process of inviting people to test the Robotaxi beginning on June 22. Inside those invites, people have found a lengthy list of requirements and restrictions. For example, riders can only bring one other person. They must read through the Terms of Service document before riding. They must have a credit or debit card on file. And they are instructed to provide feedback after the ride.

Notably, the instruction tells invitees to let Tesla know that they’ll partake so that Tesla can send them the Robotaxi rideshare application. Service will only be available from 6:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m. and within the geo-fenced area Tesla has created in Austin. The automaker says that service could end up limited or unavailable in bad weather, too.

Tesla has given me permission to share the parameters of use for their Model Y Robotaxi service, starting this Sunday June 22nd in Austin, Texas. The Early Access phase is invitation-only.

Parameters of Use:
• You must read through and agree to the attached Terms of Service,… pic.twitter.com/RPy5TvUbBg

— Sawyer Merritt (@SawyerMerritt) June 20, 2025

There are some restrictions, but most are pretty obvious. Riders aren’t allowed to drink, do drugs, vape, or smoke in the Robotaxi. They can’t use the Robotaxi to commit crimes or transport weapons or illegal/hazardous materials. If riders do break the rules, Tesla can suspend their access to Robotaxi. Importantly, riders can record video and take photos of their trip(s), so expect to see lots of that come Sunday.

Reality vs Expectation

Tesla and CEO Elon Musk have touted this launch for some time. The latter has confidently claimed (for the umpteenth time) that Full Self-Driving would reach Level 5 autonomy this year too. That’s clearly not what we’re dealing with here since there’s a safety person in the car during all of these rides. Limited availability based on timing, GPS fencing, and weather casts a dimmer light on this launch too.

At the same time, it’s nice to see Tesla taking this launch seriously enough to have an employee in the car. No doubt, that plays a role in availability based on time. The geo-locked navigation is relatively easy to understand, too, and no different than similar brands like Waymo.

Ultimately, whether you like or dislike Tesla and/or Elon Musk, additional competition in the Robotaxi space seems like a good thing. Of course, that all hinges on these cars being safe for both riders and the general public around them. We’ll find out more in just a few days. 

Here’s the full set of rules:

• You must read through and agree to the attached Terms of Service, Rider Rules, Robotaxi Rider Privacy Notice, and Service Animal Policy.
• You must have a credit/debit card on file.
• You may request a ride in the app to/from anywhere in the geofenced area, excluding any airports, between 6:00AM to 12:00AM (midnight), every day of the week. These operational hours are subject to change.A map of the geofenced area is available in the app.
• Note that service may be limited or unavailable in the event of inclement weather.
• Only the invitee may download and use the Robotaxi App to hail a Robotaxi ride.
• Please be courteous and treat the service with respect. Your participation in this Early Access program may be terminated for various reasons, including violating these parameters or engaging in unsafe and/or disrespectful behavior.
• Provide a star rating and feedback from your experience in the app.
• Photos and video of the experience are ok.
• Smoking, vaping, consuming alcohol, and using drugs are not permitted inside the Robotaxi
• The Robotaxi may not be used in connection with the commission of any crime, or to transport weapons or illegal or hazardous materials.
• Instruments or equipment intended to record, measure, reverse engineer, collect information about, or conduct surveillance of any feature, equipment, component, or area of Tesla robotaxi are strictly prohibited (such as bringing onboard devices with the intent to obtain competitively sensitive, proprietary, or non-public information about Robotaxi).
• Tesla may suspend or terminate Robotaxi access if you violate these rules, including if you disseminate content on a social media platform or similar medium depicting a violation of these Rules or misuse of the Robotaxi.

Been following Robotaxi all over Austin, tbh it got boring, after a while the excitement turns down and it felt like following just another car on the road.
99,99% of all pedestrians did not even notice it.

That said, that’s actually great news!
Bullish for TSLA! pic.twitter.com/3Y3LtUxADA

— Nikola Brussels (@NikolaBrussels) June 19, 2025

Volkswagen’s mobility-focused MOIA brand has unveiled the production version of the ID. Buzz AD. It’s been years in the making and paves the way for autonomous electric vans in Europe as well as the United States.

This announcement comes just days after Elon Musk said Tesla’s Robotaxis would begin trial operations in Austin, Texas, on June 22. Coincidence? Maybe. But the race to dominate autonomous mobility is heating up. One key difference between the two is that while Tesla’s Robotaxi will focus on serving passengers as a ride-hailing service, VW’s MOIA will primarily target corporate customers and mobility providers.

More: This VW Robotaxi Could Be Your Next Uber Ride

Volkswagen’s Level 4 vehicle has been “specifically optimized for use in mobility services” and features an extended wheelbase as well as a raised roof. Those aren’t the only changes as the van has “intuitive boarding via smartphone,” which implies riders use their device to unlock the vehicle.

Once inside, riders are treated to a revamped interior that features ‘wood’ flooring, large grab handles, and four passenger seats. We can also see SOS, Support, and Start/Stop buttons. MOIA also said the van has onboard AI to “ensure comfort and safety.”

Interestingly, the vehicle has a driver’s seat and what appears to be a steering wheel covered in cloth camouflage. This suggests the model may accommodate a safety driver, although the seat can apparently be pushed out of the way when not in use.

Elsewhere, the front passenger seat and center console have been removed. This frees up space for a storage compartment, which can hold luggage and other items.

The Autonomous Driving System

Of course, the real news is the autonomous driving system. MOIA said the van has a total of 27 sensors including 13 cameras, nine LiDARs, and five radars. This gives the ID. Buzz AD a “comprehensive, redundant 360-degree view of its surroundings.” The company added the van uses “Mobileye’s self-driving system, along with a proprietary Autonomous Driving Mobility as a Service (AD MaaS) Ecosystem Platform.”

While the firm didn’t delve into many specifics, MOIA said they offer public and private mobility providers a “turnkey package to launch autonomous services quickly, safely, and at scale.” They noted this can include everyone from cities and municipalities to fleet companies.

Customers that sign up can expect a “fully connected 360-degree package made up of leading technology, an attractive vehicle fleet, intelligent fleet management, and a customer-centric booking system – all from a single source.”

Plenty of questions remain, but Volkswagen Group CEO Oliver Blume said the rollout should begin next year, pending approval. “Beginning in 2026, we will bring sustainable, autonomous mobility to large-scale deployment in Europe and the US another milestone on our path to becoming a global technology driver in the automotive industry,” he said.

Imagine setting your semi-autonomous vehicle to take the wheel, only to have it veer off the road and onto active train tracks. At least that’s what one Tesla Model 3 driver claims happened during an early morning drive. While everyone inside the car escaped unharmed, the driver wasted no time pointing fingers at the car’s Full Self-Driving system after the incident.

More: Deadly Tesla Crash Raises Questions About Vision-Based Self-Driving Systems

Western Berks Fire Commissioner Jared Renshaw told local news outlet WFMZ that the car, “Went down the tracks approximately 40-50 feet.” According to the driver’s account, the Tesla apparently mistook the train tracks for a road and followed them as if that were a normal route. Renshaw added that the driver claimed the vehicle was in Full Self-Driving mode at the time.

A Close Call with a Passing Train

The incident occurred around 5:30 a.m., and just minutes later, a train passed by and clipped the Tesla’s mirror. Fortunately, by that point, all occupants were out of the vehicle and in a safe location. Even so, the track had to be temporarily shut down to allow crews to remove the car without risking further incidents.

According to Spitlers Garage and Towing, which posted photos of the recovery on its Facebook page, a specialized rig was needed to handle the job. The team there used a rotating crane to lift and extract the Model 3 without additional damage. Based on photos from the scene, it wouldn’t be too surprising if the Tesla managed to drive away.

Plenty of Questions, Not a Lot of Answers

Photos Spitlers Garage & Towing’s / Facebook

It’s important to note here that there are a great many details missing from this account.For starters, there are no direct quotes or context from the driver. While FSD is certainly failable, it would be very strange for it to do what the driver alleges. Not only would it have to disregard the GPS coordinates of the road itself, but it would also call into question what the driver was doing.

Did they not think to stop the car when it started to go around the train barrier? Why not hit the brakes when it first turned onto the train tracks? Why wait til it was several yards down the track?

Also, don’t forget that Tesla doesn’t market Full Self-Driving as an autonomous chauffeur. It markets it as a supervised system, one that still needs a human behind the wheel, paying attention. Here’s what Tesla’s own manual says:

“Like other Autopilot features, Full Self-Driving (Supervised) requires a fully attentive driver and will display a series of escalating warnings requiring driver response. You must keep your hands on the steering wheel while Full Self-Driving (Supervised) is engaged.While Full Self-Driving (Supervised) is engaged, the cabin camera monitors driver attentiveness (see Driver Attentiveness).“

There are just too many questions here to blindly believe that this was completely the result of Full Self-Driving on its own. We’ve reached out to Commissioner Renshaw for additional details and will update you here if we hear back.

Update: After a driverless Model Y was spotted in Austin earlier this week, Elon Musk said Tesla is targeting June 22 for the tentative launch of its long-awaited robotaxi network. “We are being super paranoid about safety, so the date could shift,” he noted. Musk also revealed that the first Tesla to fully drive itself from the end of the production line to a customer’s home is scheduled for June 28.

It’s also worth noting that the video we shared below, showing a black Model Y, has now been confirmed to be a prototype of the robotaxi. Musk reposted the footage on his X account, as did Ashok Elluswamy, who leads Tesla’s Autopilot team.

Tentatively, June 22.

We are being super paranoid about safety, so the date could shift.

First Tesla that drives itself from factory end of line all the way to a customer house is June 28.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 11, 2025

Original story follows below.

As self-driving cars edge closer to everyday reality, one brand continues to push the boundaries in full view of the public. Tesla is probably the most talked-about car company in America. Now, among the plethora of other facets of its business, driverless cars are a piece of the puzzle.

Someone just spotted a Model Y without a driver moving around Austin, Texas. The short clip is a hint of what to expect more and more in the coming months.

More: Protesters Torch Robotaxis As Cybertruck Spins Through LA Chaos

Tesla and its CEO, Elon Musk, have both pointed to June as an important month. It’s when driverless robotaxis are set to head out onto public roads. In May, we learned that Tesla would launch the program with 10-20 cars and that they’d be geo-fenced the same way Waymo cars are. What we didn’t know for sure was when they’d first be on the road. Now, we know that day has come and gone.

An X user spotted one on June 10 and posted a video of it. The short 10-second clip doesn’t show much, but it’s more than enough to confirm that this is indeed a driverless Tesla. The car is driving off of Congress Ave and turning onto West James Street. Before doing so, it stops and allows pedestrians to cross the road. Then, once the road is clear, it continues on, and we see very clearly that nobody is in the front seat.

Could this be a particularly relaxed Tesla owner with a wild trust in Autopilot? Seems unlikely, for a few reasons. First, the car has a Robotaxi decal near the front door, clearly marking it as part of the program. Second, another Model Y is trailing it closely, probably with a Tesla employee onboard to monitor the situation. And finally, this timing aligns perfectly with what Tesla’s been saying all along that June was the target month.

HOLY CRAP ITS A #ROBOTAXI!!@SawyerMerritt @WholeMarsBlog @DirtyTesLa @niccruzpatane pic.twitter.com/slfAsu0AQl

— Terrapin Terpene Col (@TerrapinTerpene) June 10, 2025

Teslarati points out that Tesla is now listed on Austin’s government website as an autonomous vehicle tester in the city. Right now, the only riders are chosen by Tesla itself, by Musk says the public will get a crack at these cars before the month is over.

While recent press surrounding accidents both this year and in years past has everyone wondering how safe these cars will be, it’s nice to see that at least this interaction went smoothly. The video seems to indicate that the system Tesla is using responds appropriately in this exact situation. Still, maybe be on the lookout for these if you’re in Austin, Texas, anytime soon. That goes double for birds.

Sure

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 29, 2025

Credit: @TerrapinTerpene