00:00Tesla has officially launched its long-awaited RoboTaxi service in Austin, Texas.
00:07The first passengers are already boarding fully autonomous Tesla Model Y vehicles,
00:12which use the so-called fully autonomous technology to travel without a driver behind the wheel.
00:19This is not a test drive or a future plan, but rather real-life rides in a defined area in southern Austin.
00:25The pilot program will start with a small fleet of around 10 to 20 Tesla Model Y vehicles.
00:34All of them are equipped with Tesla's own self-driving software and transport real people in everyday life.
00:42However, access to these initial rides is severely restricted.
00:46Only select user groups, including investors and well-known influencers, are currently allowed to use the service.
00:51A fixed price of around 4 euros is charged for each ride, which is not only noticeable because of its low amount,
00:58but also because of the symbolism chosen.
01:01Apparently a tongue-in-cheek reference from Elon Musk himself.
01:05For safety reasons, each ride is monitored remotely.
01:09In addition, a Tesla employee sits in the passenger seat, but not in the driver's seat, as this remains free.
01:15The vehicles no longer require manual control.
01:21This constellation allows Tesla to further optimize the user experience under real-world conditions without jeopardizing public trust.
01:31Although regular Tesla Model W vehicles are currently still in use,
01:35the focus is already on a special vehicle design known as the CyberCap.
01:39This in-house developed robo-taxi is to operate entirely without pedals and a steering wheel
01:47and is expected to go into production in 2026.
01:51Austin was not chosen as a test site by chance.
01:55The state of Texas currently offers a more favorable legal environment for autonomous vehicles than,
02:01for example, California.
02:03However, there is also political resistance here.
02:06Some lawmakers have called on Tesla to temporarily halt operations until stricter regulations,
02:13which are set to come into effect later this year, are implemented.
02:17The experiences of the first users so far have been largely positive.
02:22According to the company, the rides are smooth and reliable.
02:27Although there were occasional minor problems with the app operation
02:30and locating the vehicle when picking it up,
02:33no serious technical failures have been reported.
02:36Despite competition from other providers such as WMO,
02:42which are already offering autonomous driving services on a larger scale,
02:46Tesla is likely to become a leading player in this future market
02:49due to its strong brand loyalty,
02:51the seamless integration of its vehicles into its own ecosystem
02:53and its ambitious software development.
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