Tesla’s long-anticipated robotaxi made its first appearance on public roads in Austin, Texas, this weekend but not without controversy. While the company avoided major incidents, footage of the autonomous vehicle struggling at an intersection has sparked alarm and raised questions about whether the cars are truly self-driving.
According to local outlet Austin American-Statesman, Tesla invited influencers to the limited trial, which included between 10 and 20 modified Model Y vehicles operating within a geofenced zone. Some of the robotaxis experienced navigation issues, with one notable clip showing a vehicle failing to turn left and then driving briefly on the wrong side of the road.
Safety concerns were further amplified by footage that appeared to show the in-car Tesla employee remaining unfazed during the incident. Online commentators speculated that such behavior suggests the problem wasn’t a first-time occurrence. One user remarked, “The safety guy’s surprise level is at 0%. You can tell he’s seen that before.”
Tesla CEO Elon Musk warned in early June that the launch date could shift, citing a “super paranoid” approach to safety. But despite public assurances, multiple reports have since revealed that human supervisors remain heavily involved. According to Electrek and Reuters, the robotaxis rely on teleoperators—remote employees able to take control via cameras and override systems.
A screenshot shared on social platform X appeared to show an emergency override button being pressed continuously during a test ride. While Tesla has not confirmed the button’s exact function, sources verify that in-car employees can intervene using the touchscreen interface. The incident has renewed concerns about transparency in Tesla’s autonomous claims and whether these robotaxis are more remote-controlled than driverless.
Despite the setbacks, proponents argue the technology holds promise. If perfected, robotaxis could reduce urban emissions, expand access to clean transport, and push more consumers toward EVs. But for now, the bumpy first ride has put Tesla’s vision of full autonomy under a very bright spotlight.
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