Fresno State University collaborated with Tesla to host an event demonstrating autonomous vehicle technology. Students and community members explored Tesla models and took rides in supervised self-driving cars. The initiative aims to educate on upcoming changes in transportation.
The Fresno State Transportation Institute partnered with Tesla to organize an educational showcase on advancements in autonomous vehicle technology. Held in Fresno, California, the event provided students and community members with hands-on experiences, including rides in supervised self-driving cars and close looks at three Tesla models: the Cybertruck, Model S, and Model X.
Dr. Aly Tawfik, professor of transportation systems engineering and director of the institute, highlighted the collaboration's purpose. "This is an event that our transportation institute is collaborating with Tesla and offering it for the students and the public," Tawfik said. He emphasized educating participants about the transportation industry's rapid evolution and self-driving technology's potential to transform daily life.
Tawfik described the moment as historic: "Every time humans invented a new transportation technology, the world changed. Now we’re witnessing one of these moments in history where the world is going to change — and that’s because of self-driving vehicles." He noted that Tesla's supervised system is the only commercially available option and safer than human drivers. "They don’t get DUIs, they don’t break the law, they don’t speed," Tawfik said. "They’re always paying attention, and their reaction times are much faster."
The event also addressed challenges, such as economic shifts from fully autonomous vehicles. Tawfik warned that widespread adoption could reduce personal car ownership in favor of affordable autonomous taxis, threatening businesses like gas stations and auto repair shops. "When vehicles are completely autonomous, most people will not choose to own vehicles," he explained. "They’ll ride autonomous taxis because they’re going to be extremely less expensive — almost free. That means gas stations, paint shops, and body shops could be at risk."
Through such initiatives, the institute seeks to prepare the Central Valley community for these changes. "It’s our job to educate our community that this is happening and that we need to start preparing for it," Tawfik said. "Lots of people can either get an advantage and move to the forefront of technology — or if we don’t, lots of people can suffer." The showcase also encouraged students to pursue careers in engineering, artificial intelligence, and transportation. "We want our students to see that technology, AI, and engineering are all working together now in this exciting moment in time," Tawfik added. "We’re inventing the next mode of transportation — one that’s going to affect everybody’s life."