Somebody’s already tried the new Tesla Robotaxi in Austin, Texas, and it went better than expected.
A content creator shared his impression on YouTube after using the new Uber-style app.
What he had to say was interesting.
And there’s one thing in particular that stood out to us.
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How does the Robotaxi work?
YouTuber Dave Lee tried using the new fully autonomous Tesla Robotaxi for the first time, and his experience taught us a lot.
The new Robotaxi, available in Austin, Texas, works just like an Uber or Waymo.
You download the app, order a ride and go from A to B with no driver.
For now, Tesla is offering a flat rate of $4.20 – which is obviously extremely competitive pricing.
One thing Lee pointed out was the Tesla Robotaxi interface.
He said you could use it to make the car immediately pull over, stop in lane, or contact support.
This stood out to us because it kind of sounds like Tesla wants to give passengers more liberties in terms of how they can get from A to B.
In the same way you could tell a taxi driver ‘you can drop me off here’ even though your destination may still be a few hundred yards away, you’ll be able to tell the autonomous Tesla to stop on command.
It will also give passengers more power if they find themselves in an unexpected predicament.
Also, but this is perhaps more predictable, you can be your own DJ during the ride and pick the music you want to play.
The race to full autonomy is in full swing
The race to full autonomy is in full swing, with several players trying to get a piece of the pie.
Google’s Waymo is probably in the lead, considering it’s already available in multiple locations across the United States.
Uber is also joining the bandwagon.
After declaring Tesla would need Uber in May last year, and then the exact opposite a few months later, Uber eventually teamed up with an entirely different brand, Volkswagen, for autonomous rides in Los Angeles.
As for Tesla, the EV company seemed to have nearly everything else on the back burner to prioritize autonomy, which explains why the company unveiled two robotaxies at the expense of the (yet again delayed) Roadster.
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