On the Road with Tesla Robotaxi: Early Austin Pilot Reveals Promising Tech and Initial Hurdles

Tesla’s highly anticipated Robotaxi service is now undergoing a pilot launch in Austin, Texas, offering an exclusive glimpse into the future of autonomous ride-hailing. A Business Insider reporter recently took five rides in the service’s autonomous Model Y vehicles, largely finding the experience impressive despite encountering a few early-stage challenges.

The reporter noted the spaciousness and confident maneuvers of the 2025 Model Ys, which navigate Austin’s roads using only external cameras and neural networks. The system demonstrated its ability to maintain safe distances from cyclists, recognize construction zones, and execute turns effectively even with oncoming traffic. A safety operator is present in every vehicle during this pilot phase, with remote support agents also available.

However, the pilot revealed some areas for improvement. The reporter experienced three ‘disengagements’ where human intervention was required, including one instance where the Robotaxi attempted to drive the wrong way onto a one-way street. Other observations included occasional inconsistencies in pick-up times, minor app glitches, and the vehicles’ apparent avoidance of highways, leading to longer routes. Drop-off precision also sometimes required a short walk to the final destination.

Launched since the end of June, Tesla’s Robotaxi service is still in its nascent stages, with limited access granted to invitees and a flat fee of $6.90 per ride. While the system demonstrated its capabilities, these early experiences underscore that the service, much like its competitors in their initial pilot phases, is a work in progress aiming to scale its operations and refine its autonomous driving capabilities in urban environments.

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