First Unattended Model Y Robotaxi Rides: Passengers Can’t Take Control

Key Takeaways

1. Tesla is launching unsupervised rides in Model Y robotaxis, starting in Austin and San Francisco.
2. The unsupervised FSD software is different from the supervised version available to regular Tesla owners, with plans to merge them later this year.
3. Texas’s lack of clear regulations on self-driving cars allows Tesla to operate without a safety monitor in the vehicle initially.
4. Passengers cannot touch the steering wheel during rides; if they do, the vehicle will stop.
5. Tesla is collaborating with insurers to offer lower premiums for rides using its FSD software compared to human-driven trips.

Tesla is taking a bold step by launching truly unsupervised rides in its Model Y robotaxis on the Robotaxi platform for the first time.

Unsupervised FSD Software

The fully autonomous Model Y robotaxis are operating in cities such as Austin and San Francisco. These vehicles use a special software version that Tesla refers to as unsupervised FSD, distinguishing it from the supervised model that is accessible to regular Tesla owners. While plans to merge the two software branches are set for later this year, allowing 2026 Model Y owners equipped with HW4 to rent out their cars and generate some income, currently, the unsupervised rides are exclusively available in Austin.

Texas Laws and Ride-Sharing

Texas does not have any clear regulations regarding self-driving cars, which is why Tesla is rolling out ride-sharing services without a safety monitor in the passenger seat in this state first. At the beginning, there will be a combination of both unsupervised and supervised rides, but as time goes by, the company plans to increase the proportion of fully autonomous trips where only passengers are present in the vehicle.

Safety Measures and Insurance

Tesla is extremely confident in the safety of its FSD technology, to the point where passengers are not permitted to touch the steering wheel of the Model Y or take control of the vehicle. If someone touches the wheel too many times, the Model Y robotaxi will simply pull over and stop. Moreover, Tesla has shared its FSD safety data with external insurers like Lemonade, which is introducing a specialized insurance product for autonomous vehicles. This product offers 50% lower premiums for every mile driven using Tesla’s FSD software instead of by a human driver.

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