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Tesla’s highly anticipated Robotaxi service has launched, but not without a few hiccups. Videos circulating online show instances of the autonomous vehicles exceeding speed limits and briefly veering into the wrong lane during what Elon Musk hailed as a “successful” rollout. This news comes as Tesla shares saw an initial surge of up to 11% following the debut.
Robotaxi Fails: Speeding and Lane Deviations
Investor Rob Maurer posted a video showing a Robotaxi struggling to navigate a left-turn-only lane, briefly crossing a double yellow line. Another video, shared by Tesla enthusiast Sawyer Merritt, captured the Robotaxi exceeding the 30 mph speed limit in Austin, Texas. YouTuber Herbert Ong reported a similar speeding experience.
“It’s going at 39 right now, which is perfect, right, because I don’t want to drive at 35, and it’s driving at the same flow of traffic,” Ong said in his video.
NHTSA Investigates Tesla Robotaxi Safety
Bloomberg reports that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is now seeking information from Tesla regarding the Robotaxi incidents shared online. The agency is assessing the situation to ensure road safety.
Initial Reviews Mixed with Positive Spin
Despite the reported issues, Tesla’s stock initially rose after a selected group of influencers posted positive reviews on social media after taking the Robotaxis. Wedbush analyst Dan Ives, a Tesla bull, praised his experience, stating, “The ride itself was completely smooth, and it was indistinguishable that the car was driverless.”
Tesla began offering the driverless rides to invited guests on Sunday, charging a $4.20 flat fee. The initial fleet consisted of about 10 Tesla Model Y SUVs, each with a company “safety monitor” on board.
Former Tesla employee-turned influencer, Farzad Mesbahi, commented that his rides were “very smooth and comfortable.” He added, “Now Tesla needs to scale this service safely.”
Competition Heats Up in the Autonomous Vehicle Market
Tesla’s Robotaxi is entering a competitive market, facing established players like Google’s Waymo and Amazon’s Zoox. Tesla has requested confidentiality from US regulators regarding safety-related information provided about the Texas Robotaxi deployment.
Elon Musk celebrated the Robotaxi launch, congratulating the Tesla AI team. The launch took place within a geofenced area, with service limited or unavailable in bad weather.
Musk has long emphasized the potential of Tesla’s “Full Self Driving” technology, though regulators have raised safety concerns. He believes the technology could significantly increase Tesla’s market capitalization.
The Robotaxi debut arrives at a time when Tesla’s shares are under pressure.
Filed Under: Artificial Intelligence, Cars, Electric Cars, Elon Musk, Tesla