Tesla quietly launches its robotaxi service in Austin, using Model Y vehicles with advanced teleoperation and human monitoring for safety. Discover how Tesla blends AI with remote control.
Tesla has subtly launched its much-anticipated robotaxi service in Austin, Texas, over the weekend, deploying around 10 Model Y SUVs under strict operating conditions.
According to a post by CEO Elon Musk on X (formerly Twitter), the rides were offered for a flat fare of $4.20. Several social media influencers were seen booking these autonomous rides across multiple Austin locations, as shown in clips reshared by Musk himself.
Super congratulations to the @Tesla_AI software & chip design teams on a successful @Robotaxi launch!!
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 22, 2025
Culmination of a decade of hard work.
Both the AI chip and software teams were built from scratch within Tesla.
Elon Musk emphasized Tesla’s strong focus on safety, revealing that humans would remotely monitor the fleet, and that each vehicle includes a safety operator in the front passenger seat.
What is Teleoperation?
The remote control of vehicles, also known as teleoperation, involves controlling machines from a different location via wireless networks.
This technique plays a crucial role in:
- Training autonomous systems
- Monitoring their activity
- Taking control when necessary
Although many robotaxi startups worldwide are still in testing phases, teleoperation remains a vital component when autonomous software hits a roadblock and needs human intervention.
For instance, Alphabet’s Waymo has a team of human “fleet response” agents. These agents support the Waymo Driver (the autonomous system) whenever it encounters an unfamiliar situation on the road.
“It’s like phone-a-friend,” Waymo explained, where the self-driving car asks a remote operator for guidance. In one example, a car stopped near emergency vehicles asked if the road was safe to proceed. Once the human confirmed, the car continued.
While Waymo only provides information, Baidu’s Apollo Go in China has gone a step further—employing fully remote backup drivers who can virtually take control of the vehicle. However, Baidu chose not to comment on its system.
What Are the Limitations of Remote Driving?
Controlling cars remotely on public roads isn’t without risk. One major concern is the reliance on cellular networks, which are prone to latency and disconnection.
Philip Koopman, a Carnegie Mellon University professor and autonomous vehicle safety expert, said this could work on a small scale, such as Tesla’s 10-vehicle pilot in Austin. But he called the tech “inherently unreliable.”
“Eventually, you will lose connection at the worst time,” he warned. “If Tesla’s done its homework, that may not happen with 10 cars—but scale that to a million, and it’s bound to occur daily.”
Former Waymo CEO John Krafcik agreed, pointing out that cell signal delays make fully remote driving “very risky.” He also added that Waymo vehicles are not actively monitored—they only request help when needed, and the AI remains the final decision-maker.
Koopman also raised concerns about scalability, saying there’s a limit to how many vehicles one human operator can monitor safely.
Concerns From Lawmakers and Tesla’s Safety Plan
Ahead of Tesla’s robotaxi rollout, Democratic lawmakers in Texas requested a delay until September, when new legislation governing autonomous vehicles comes into effect. In their letter, they stated a delay would serve the public interest and help build trust in Tesla’s robotaxi initiative.
Musk has long promised a future where Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (Supervised) technology evolves into fully autonomous capability, supporting a commercial robotaxi network.
In 2024, Musk announced plans to launch a paid robotaxi service in Austin based on an unsupervised version of this software.
“Teslas will be in the wild, with no one in them, in June, in Austin,” he told investors earlier this year.
In a May interview with CNBC, Musk clarified the service would operate only in safe areas, avoid complex intersections, and include human oversight.
Reactions to Tesla’s Robotaxi Launch
Tesla’s surprise rollout of its robotaxi fleet in Austin drew immediate attention on social media. Many praised the innovation and affordability of the experience.
The best tech feels like magic because it’s so normal you don’t even notice it… until you do.
— DJ Seo (@djseo) June 23, 2025
Took a ride in a Tesla Robotaxi today.
In this clip, it pulls aside on a narrow street with construction, making room for an oncoming car that illegally turns into our lane.
The… pic.twitter.com/UZ9S13xGDO
However, there was also a sense of caution. Some locals expressed concerns about road safety, especially with robotaxis operating in real-world conditions. Others questioned how reliable the remote control systems would be if the vehicle encountered unexpected roadblocks or signal loss.
Some competitors criticized the move as premature, citing Musk’s history of overpromising on Full Self-Driving capabilities. Others acknowledged that even a small successful launch in a city like Austin could shift public perception and regulatory direction.
Tesla’s Vision for Remote Operations
Inside Tesla, plans to utilize human teleoperators during robotaxi operations have been circulating for years, a source familiar with the company’s strategy revealed.
In scenarios where a vehicle becomes confused—say, stalled in a crowded pedestrian zone—a human operator can step in remotely and navigate it out of the situation.
Tesla has posted job listings for teleoperation roles, describing them as positions requiring staff to remotely “access and control” both autonomous vehicles and humanoid robots. These workers would handle “complex and intricate tasks” from afar.
While Tesla has yet to provide an official comment, Musk reiterated Tesla’s extreme caution around safety in a post before the pilot program launched:
“We are being super paranoid about safety.”
Tesla’s cautious rollout of its robotaxi service in Austin marks a significant moment in the evolution of driverless transportation. While only a small fleet of 10 vehicles is currently active, the use of human teleoperators and front-seat safety monitors shows that the company is taking a measured approach toward fully autonomous mobility.
Though challenges remain—particularly around remote control limitations and public trust—Tesla’s use of teleoperation, combined with its AI-driven Full Self-Driving technology, reflects a strategic balance between innovation and safety. As lawmakers, experts, and the public watch closely, this pilot in Austin could pave the way for a broader, more transformative robotaxi network in the years ahead.
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