Tesla begins fully driverless Robotaxi trials on Austin streets

A significant new phase in Tesla’s autonomous driving development has commenced, as an X (formerly Twitter) user recently captured a video of a Tesla Model Y operating on Austin's public roads with no occupants inside. 

This marks a critical step, as the company's Robotaxi pilot programme, which launched in Austin in June, had previously always included a human supervisor in the passenger seat.

The viral video quickly generated excitement among Tesla observers, although customers attempting to order a robotaxi immediately afterward still reported having a safety monitor present in their ride. 

Following the online buzz, Tesla CEO Elon Musk confirmed the development on the social media platform, stating, "Testing is underway with no occupants in the car."

This suggests the fully driverless trials are currently limited to internal testing, not yet servicing paying customers. 

Tesla's AI chief, Ashok Elluswamy, also acknowledged the milestone, simply writing on X, "And so it begins!"

Notably, this move aligns with a recent statement Musk made during an xAI hackathon event last week, where he indicated that Tesla would remove human safety monitors from its Austin robotaxi fleet by the end of the year. 

According to Robotaxi Tracker, run by Austin-based observer Ethan McKenna, the city's active Tesla robotaxi fleet has slightly increased to 31 vehicles, up from 29 in November.