Transportation

Tesla Robotaxi Rides Without Safety Monitors Begin

A Tesla Inc. Robotaxi on Oltorf Street in Austin, in June 2025. — A Tesla Inc. Robotaxi on Oltorf Street in Austin, in June 2025.
Photographer: Tim Goessman/Bloomberg

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By Kara Carlson and Edward Ludlow

January 22, 2026 at 6:37 PM UTC

Corrected

January 23, 2026 at 7:52 PM UTC

Tesla Inc. is beginning to offer actual robotaxi rides in Austin, a milestone for the carmaker that launched a service seven months ago with vehicles that have relied on human supervisors sitting in front seats.

Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk touted the development in an X post Thursday, sharing a video from an ex-Tesla artificial intelligence engineer. The CEO announced last month that testing without any occupants in the company’s cars was underway.