Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, has announced that the company plans to launch robotaxis in Austin, Texas, by the end of June, with further expansions planned for Los Angeles and San Francisco. During an interview with CNBC, Musk indicated that the initial rollout will involve approximately 10 Model Y vehicles equipped with the upcoming FSD (full self-driving) system, known as FSD Unsupervised. He emphasized a cautious approach, stating that they would monitor the performance of these vehicles closely before scaling up to thousands.
Musk has been asserting for years that Tesla is on the verge of delivering a fully autonomous vehicle capable of safely transporting passengers without human intervention. For the initial deployment, Tesla plans to geofence the robotaxis in Austin, restricting their operational area, and there will be no human safety drivers inside the cars. Tesla employees will monitor the fleet remotely to ensure safety during the launch phase.
In contrast to Alphabet’s Waymo, which utilizes advanced sensors like lidar, Musk believes Tesla’s camera and AI-based approach is more efficient and cost-effective for scaling a global fleet. Despite challenges, including a reported 20% drop in automotive revenue, Musk expressed optimism about a rebound in demand, attributing the decline to necessary retooling of the factories for the Model Y’s updated production.
Moreover, Musk’s political affiliations and the impact on Tesla’s sales were discussed, with Musk downplaying concerns about his political views affecting consumer decisions. He reaffirmed his commitment to lead Tesla for the next five years, as he navigates his roles in various ventures while maintaining his status as one of the world’s wealthiest individuals.
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