Tesla’s sales are taking another hit, dropping 13% last quarter. It’s not looking good for them this year, and Elon Musk’s antics aren’t helping public opinion. Yet, despite the stumbling sales, Tesla still sits as the top dog in market value, worth a staggering $990 billion. Why? Partly because they’ve dipped their toes into the autonomous vehicle pool in Austin, Texas. But don’t let the headlines fool you—smooth rollout doesn’t mean success, just a lack of crashes so far.
Now, here’s what’s really happening: the early riders for Tesla’s robotaxi aren’t your average Joes. They’re Tesla fanboys and influencers with vested interests. And while they’re singing praises, Tesla’s staying mum on when the public gets a turn. It’s a controlled play, and their operational area is tiny compared to Waymo, who’s been at this game longer.
Despite the autonomous claims, there’s a safety monitor in every car, ready to step in when the tech screws up. Tesla’s tight-lipped about whether they’re using remote drivers or just assistants, but let’s be real—having a human backup isn’t the mark of a mature driverless system. Tesla’s not innovating here; they’re playing catch-up with Waymo and others who’ve already been through these growing pains.
Missy Cummings, an autonomous vehicle researcher, calls it like she sees it: Tesla’s far behind. They’re in the kiddie pool of self-driving tech, and Musk’s promises remain as shaky as ever. The supposed milestone of unsupervised driving by June? Not even close. Tesla’s robotaxi is a demo, not a deployment.
Videos from riders add fuel to the fire. One shows a robotaxi crossing into oncoming traffic; another needs intervention to avoid a UPS truck. Then there’s the phantom braking, a known issue with their tech, now under federal scrutiny. Weather complicates things further, as rides stop for rain. Tesla claims their cars can perform flawlessly in heavy rain, but the reality doesn’t match up.
Tesla’s reliance on cameras for autonomy is another debate. Musk insists cameras and AI are enough, but others aren’t convinced. Cummings points out no safety-critical system relies on a single sensor type. Tesla’s approach is a gamble, and not one with a track record of success.
The real test will be how fast Tesla expands this service. Musk’s bold claims of hundreds of thousands of robotaxis next year are ambitious, to say the least. They’re hiring more operators in Austin, but Musk has a history of broken promises. It’s a waiting game now to see if they can deliver or if this is just another overhyped tech spectacle.
