Key Takeaways
1. Tesla has launched its Robotaxi service in Austin using Model Y cars that can now drive themselves without any human inside.
2. The vehicles operate on a unique “unsupervised” version of Full Self-Driving (FSD) software, which differs from the standard FSD available to regular users.
3. Previously, safety operators were required in the vehicles, but they have now been removed for public road testing.
4. Tesla plans to merge the unsupervised FSD branch with the public version, allowing private Model Y owners to access this feature through an OTA update.
5. Tesla owners will be able to add their Model Y to the Robotaxi fleet to earn income when not in use, with a 20% fee for the management of the ride-share service.
The Model Y cars that Tesla began using for its Robotaxi service have now gained sentience and are driving by themselves without any person inside.
New Developments in Robotaxi Pilot
Tesla kicked off its Robotaxi ride-share program in Austin utilizing owned Model Y units that operate on a unique FSD 14 branch labeled “unsupervised.” Initially, a safety operator was always present in the vehicle, either sitting in the passenger seat in Texas or in the driver’s seat without using the controls in California due to local laws.
Now, Tesla has eliminated the safety monitor from the cars, and Model Y robotaxi vehicles have been spotted performing test drives on public roads in Austin with no one onboard, fully executing unsupervised FSD.
Unique Features of Tesla’s FSD
From the beginning, Tesla has clarified that the vehicles in its Robotaxi ride-share initiative function on a special FSD branch that differs from the standard version available to regular Model Y owners.
Until recently, Tesla had only conducted truly unsupervised Model Y FSD test drives within its manufacturing facilities, allowing newly built cars to navigate from the assembly line to the delivery area. They also performed a self-delivery test, where a recently purchased Model Y reached its new owner autonomously.
Future of Unsupervised FSD
However, the company now feels it has gathered enough data from the Robotaxi pilot to safely test unsupervised FSD on crowded public roads with no one inside the vehicle.
In addition, the unsupervised FSD branch is expected to merge with the version accessible to the public soon. Tesla suggested that this feature will be available to privately owned vehicles through an OTA update, which will come “first slowly, and then all at once,” indicating a promising future for the Robotaxi service. For owners of AI4/HW4 vehicles, that is. Those with older HW3 Model Ys might only receive FSD 14 Lite, which could have fewer capabilities than needed for unsupervised FSD.
Tesla owners will eventually have the opportunity to add their Model Y to the Robotaxi fleet and start earning when they aren’t using their cars, with a 20% fee for managing the Tesla ride-share app and payment system. Elon Musk previously mentioned that the rollout of unsupervised FSD for Tesla owners is expected in 2026, coinciding with the introduction of Cybercab two-seaters as part of the Robotaxi fleet.
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