Robotaxi
Skepticism Grows as Tesla's Unsupervised Robotaxis in Austin Fail to Materialize
Reported by AI Image generated by AI
Following Tesla's January 22, 2026, announcement of unsupervised robotaxi rides in Austin—a claim covered in prior reporting—riders report no such experiences a week later amid service disruptions from an ice storm and ahead of Q4 earnings. Bay Area operations face legal barriers, fueling doubts amid absent evidence.
Tesla executives detailed during their Q4 and FY 2025 earnings call how the company plans a comprehensive robotaxi service that accommodates various passenger needs without relying solely on the two-seater Cybercab. The service will leverage the Cybercab for most trips, supplemented by Model Y vehicles and the Robovan for larger groups. Production of the autonomous Cybercab is set to begin in April 2026.
Reported by AI
New research shows Tesla's robotaxis offer the lowest fares in San Francisco, averaging $8.17 per ride, but users face much longer wait times compared to competitors. The study by rideshare app Obi analyzed nearly 95,000 rides from late 2025 into early 2026. While Tesla holds a price edge, it ranks last in key usability metrics.
Tesla has begun offering public robotaxi rides in Austin, Texas, without safety monitors in the vehicles, marking a milestone in its autonomous driving efforts. The company announced the change on January 22, 2026, starting with a small number of unsupervised cars mixed into the fleet. This follows years of promises from CEO Elon Musk and comes amid competition from rivals like Waymo.
Reported by AI
Waymo has begun offering driverless ride-hailing services in Miami, Florida, marking its sixth city for level 4 robotaxis. The service covers a 60-square-mile area around downtown. This expansion comes as Tesla initiates a limited driverless operation in Austin.
Following the USPTO's suspension of Tesla's 'Cybercab' trademark in November 2025 due to Unibev's prior claim, the French beverage company has now secured US and international rights to the name as of December 12, 2025. Tesla, which announced the robotaxi before filing, is negotiating a resolution amid ongoing branding challenges.
Reported by AI
A modified Tesla Cybertruck, equipped with extra sensors for autonomous testing, was recently seen charging in California. This marks the first known instance of the electric pickup being used as a robotaxi validation vehicle. The sighting suggests Tesla is broadening its self-driving vehicle trials beyond the Model Y.
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