Tesla has begun a small-scale robotaxi trial in Austin, Texas, deploying about 10 self-driving cars to pick up paying passengers in a limited area, as the state enacts new regulations for autonomous vehicles.
On Sunday, Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced the launch of the "robotaxi" service in Austin, calling it the culmination of a decade of work on Artificial Intelligence chips and software developed in-house. The trial involves roughly 10 vehicles operating without drivers behind the wheel, though safety monitors sit in the front seat. Passengers pay a flat fee of $4.20 per ride.
Influencers invited by Tesla have shared videos of rides within a defined zone, with Musk emphasizing cautious operation—avoiding bad weather, difficult intersections, and minors. This rollout marks Tesla’s first public step toward commercializing self-driving taxis amid significant industry challenges.
Meanwhile, Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed a law effective 1 September requiring permits for autonomous vehicles operating without human drivers. The legislation empowers the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles to approve or revoke permits and mandates companies to provide emergency response information.
The law demands 'Level 4' autonomy for permits, meaning cars can drive without human intervention under specific conditions. It represents a more cautious regulatory stance compared to Texas’s previous anti-regulation approach, though less strict than California’s oversight.
Experts say Tesla’s Austin trial is an early milestone but cautioned that fully scaling robotaxi services could take years or decades. Tesla remains the world’s most valuable automaker, with much of its market value tied to promises around autonomous vehicles and robotics.
Tesla differs from competitors by relying solely on cameras for navigation, avoiding lidar and radar to reduce costs, a strategy Musk insists will be safe and effective. The rollout is closely watched following incidents involving rival companies’ autonomous vehicles and ongoing regulatory scrutiny.
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7 September is marked as a day of heroism and national pride in Azerbaijan. On this date in 2020, the 44-day Second Karabakh War began, bringing an end to years of occupation and restoring the country’s territorial integrity.
The Maghreb branch of the Global Sumud Flotilla, en route to Gaza with humanitarian aid, has reported a second encounter with military aircraft this week. According to the group, two unidentified planes flew at low altitude over its vessels while they were sailing in Greek territorial waters.
On the eve of the United Nations Security Council meeting on Friday to vote on a six-month extension of Iran’s nuclear sanctions under Resolution 2231, Tehran has stepped up its last-minute diplomatic measures to avert the return of pre-2015 sanctions.
Miniso announced on Friday that it will spin off its brand Top Toy and list it in Hong Kong, capitalising on the growing investor interest in Chinese toymakers and highlighting the city’s renewed position as a global fundraising hub.
AnewZ has learned that India has once again blocked Azerbaijan’s application for full membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, while Pakistan’s recent decision to consider diplomatic relations with Armenia has been coordinated with Baku as part of Azerbaijan’s peace agenda.
A day of mourning has been declared in Portugal to pay respect to victims who lost their lives in the Lisbon Funicular crash which happened on Wednesday evening.
A Polish Air Force pilot was killed on Thursday when an F-16 fighter jet crashed during a training flight ahead of the 2025 Radom International Air Show.
Video from the USGS (United States Geological Survey) showed on Friday (19 September) the Kilauea volcano in Hawaii erupting and spewing lava.
At least eight people have died and more than 90 others were injured following a catastrophic gas tanker explosion on a major highway in Mexico City’s Iztapalapa district on Wednesday, authorities confirmed.
The UN Security Council on Friday vetoed a draft resolution submitted by Russia and China that sought to delay the “snapback” sanctions on Iran. The resolution received only four votes in favour, with nine members voting against and two abstaining.
The U.S. considers limiting India’s purchases of Russian oil a key requirement for reaching a trade agreement.
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India dismissed as "incorrect and baseless" claims made by NATO’s Secretary General suggesting that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had contacted Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding the impact of punitive U.S. tariffs on India’s purchases of Russian oil.
The Kremlin stated on Friday that the suggestion of shooting down Russian military planes over Europe was reckless, aggressive, and represented a serious escalation of tensions near Russia's border.
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