Tesla CEO Elon Musk said Friday the company plans to phase out Safety Drivers from its Robotaxi fleet by year-end, according to Teslarati. The change would move away from employees in the driver’s seat during highway operations and city rides in Austin, as well as during all trips in the Bay Area. Musk explained that Safety Drivers are “just there for the first few months to be extra safe” and are different from Safety Monitors, who will continue to oversee some rides. Safety Drivers and Monitors have been a central focus of criticism from Robotaxi skeptics and Tesla critics. Executives defended the cautious approach, saying their “paranoid” focus on safety is necessary to prevent accidents that could set back both Tesla and the wider self-driving industry. Musk reiterated his goal for Robotaxis to serve half of the U.S. population by year-end.
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