Tesla began unsupervised robotaxi testing in Austin, Texas, on December 14, 2025, with empty Model Y vehicles navigating public roads, as confirmed by CEO Elon Musk. This milestone follows supervised trials since June and aims to challenge Waymo, despite recent crashes and regulatory hurdles.
Tesla kicked off driverless robotaxi trials in Austin on December 14, 2025, operating without safety drivers or occupants. Social media videos captured at least two black Model Y SUVs—one in South Congress and Dawson neighborhoods—showing empty cabins confirmed by differing license plates. Musk posted on X: "Testing is underway with no occupants in the car." Tesla AI head Ashok Elluswamy added, "And so it begins!" while the official account teased, "Slowly, then all at once."
This builds on the program's June 2025 invite-only launch with passenger-seat monitors, shifting to driver-seat monitors by September and expanding across greater Austin. The fleet numbers 25-31 vehicles (up from 29 in November), far below Musk's initial year-end goal of 500, later revised to 60. Trials also occur in San Francisco, leveraging Texas's lighter regulations versus California's strict driverless permits.
Powered by unmodified consumer Model Ys running Full Self-Driving (FSD) software—described by Musk as a 'small model' nearing 'unsupervised' readiness—the tests validate rare failure scenarios. Musk recently claimed the technology is "pretty much solved," eyeing over-the-air rollout for full driverless service soon.
Progress faces headwinds: at least seven crashes since June, with NHTSA reports heavily redacted. Rivals like Alphabet's Waymo operate 2,000+ robotaxis across cities, delivering 450,000 paid weekly rides (up 80% in six months). Tesla's push continues amid past traffic violations and ambitious promises, like covering half the U.S. population by year-end.
