Tesla CEO Elon Musk posted on X over the weekend, confirming that the autonomous vehicles are now driving around with no occupants.
“Testing is underway with no occupants in the car,” Musk said in the post, which was in response to a post by user DogeDesigner that showed one of the vehicles operating with no one inside.
“A driverless Tesla Robotaxi was spotted on the roads of Austin, Texas today. No one in the car. No safety driver. Fully autonomous. This is actually happening,” the Dec. 14 post stated.
Tesla robotaxis have been navigating Austin streets for the last six months or so, with “Tesla Safety Monitors” on board. Now, the robotaxis are operating without anyone inside.
Previously, the autonomous vehicles had a “Tesla Safety Monitor” on board for rides.
Tesla launched its autonomous vehicle service in Austin in June to customers who received an early access invitation.
Tesla Robotaxis Now Operate Without Safety Drivers
For roughly six months, Tesla’s robotaxis have been traveling the streets of Austin equipped with “Tesla Safety Monitors.” These monitors have traditionally acted as a safety net, ready to intervene if needed. The monitors have since been removed, and the vehicles are now operating without any human presence inside.
Elon Musk Confirms Autonomous Driving
Tesla CEO Elon Musk took to X over the weekend to confirm that the vehicles are indeed driving autonomously without occupants. Musk’s post came in response to a user named DogeDesigner, who had shared a video showing one of the robotaxis moving around with no one inside. Musk’s statement read: “Testing is underway with no occupants in the car.”
Dec. 14 Post Details
A separate post dated Dec. 14, posted by an unnamed user, added further context. The post described a driverless Tesla Robotaxi spotted on Austin streets, noting that there was no safety driver present and that the vehicle was fully autonomous. The user emphasized that this was not a hypothetical scenario but an actual event.
Launch Details
Tesla’s autonomous vehicle service officially launched in Austin in June. The rollout was limited to a small group of customers who received early access invitations. Those early adopters have been using the service for months, providing the data needed to refine the technology.
Key Takeaways
- Tesla robotaxis have been operating in Austin for about six months with safety monitors.
- Elon Musk confirmed on X that the vehicles are now driving without occupants.
- A Dec. 14 user post documented a driverless robotaxi in operation.
The development marks a significant milestone for autonomous vehicle testing in a real-world urban environment. Tesla’s move to remove safety monitors and rely solely on software-based autonomy signals a shift toward full driverless operation. As the company continues to collect data and refine its algorithms, the future of autonomous transportation in Austin and beyond looks increasingly tangible.
