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Details
- Tesla’s AI division unveiled the @robotaxi project, officially marking the launch of its long-awaited autonomous ride-hailing service.
- This announcement follows Elon Musk’s 2024 shareholder promise to introduce a Robotaxi vehicle built without a steering wheel or pedals.
- The service will leverage Tesla’s proprietary Full Self-Driving software and Dojo-trained vision models, opting not to use lidar or high-definition maps.
- While earlier plans suggested owners could add their own cars to a shared fleet, today’s announcement indicates a dedicated, company-managed fleet may be available.
- Details on pricing, launch locations, or regulatory approvals were not provided, though previous statements referenced possible U.S. city launches by the end of 2025.
Impact
Tesla’s entry into autonomous ride-hailing ramps up rivalry with Waymo and Cruise, who are already scaling driverless services in major U.S. cities. Success with Robotaxi could redefine Tesla’s business model, potentially boosting software subscription revenue well beyond car sales, while testing a controversial pure-vision autonomy system. However, regulatory hurdles loom, and public setbacks have previously slowed competitors, making Tesla’s ambitious timeline an industry flashpoint.
