Tesla has begun operating robotaxis in Austin, Texas, without safety monitors inside the vehicles, according to CEO Elon Musk. However, videos suggest that supervision continues via following chase cars. This development raises questions about the extent of true autonomy in the service.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced on X on January 23, 2026, that the company had started robotaxi drives in Austin with "no safety monitor in the car." The official Tesla account described the rides as "full unsupervised," while FSD chief Ashok Elluswamy referred to "a few unsupervised vehicles."
The service, which launched last summer with human safety monitors in the front passenger seats, appears to have shifted oversight. A video shared by Tesla enthusiast Joe Tegtmeyer, retweeted by Musk, shows a red robotaxi Model Y being followed by a black Tesla Model Y. Tegtmeyer noted, "You'll also notice behind the Model Y is a chase car, I think they're using that for validation." Reports from Electrek and others indicate that these chase cars likely carry safety personnel ready to intervene, moving supervision out of the vehicle but maintaining close monitoring.
Neither Tesla nor Musk has clarified the role of the chase cars, fueling skepticism about the claims of unsupervised operation. This follows sightings a month earlier of empty robotaxis, confirming driverless testing. Tesla's robotaxis have faced challenges, including accidents, traffic violations, and required interventions by monitors.
In contrast, competitor Waymo operates fully autonomous rides in six U.S. cities, including recent expansion to Miami, without such visible supervision. Musk has described Tesla's approach as "paranoid" about safety, amid promises of scaling to over 1,000 vehicles soon and a million self-driving Teslas by the end of 2026. Currently, the Austin fleet numbers around 30 vehicles.
This step represents progress in removing in-car supervisors but highlights ongoing reliance on external oversight, essential for scaling autonomous services safely.
