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.
The United States has expressed full support for the European Union's proposal to use frozen Russian assets to aid Ukraine and bring an end to the war...
Azerbaijan marks its fifth Victory Day on 8 November, celebrating the liberation of occupied territories and the restoration of sovereignty, a milesto...
The European Commission has tightened Schengen visa rules for Russian citizens, limiting most new applicants to single-entry permits, citing security ...
President Donald Trump announced on Friday that no U.S. government official would attend the upcoming Group of 20 summit in South Africa later this mo...
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has confirmed it will fund full SNAP food benefits for more than 42 million Americans, following federal court orde...
The United States has expressed full support for the European Union's proposal to use frozen Russian assets to aid Ukraine and bring an end to the war with Russia, a U.S. source familiar with the matter told Reuters on Friday.
President Donald Trump announced on Friday that no U.S. government official would attend the upcoming Group of 20 summit in South Africa later this month, citing what he described as "human rights abuses" occurring in the country.
Serbia's parliament passed a law on Friday designed to accelerate the development of a luxury complex in Belgrade, leased to an investment company founded by Jared Kushner, U.S. President Donald Trump's son-in-law.
Azerbaijan has no plans to deploy peacekeepers to Gaza unless there is a complete cessation of hostilities between Israel and Hamas, an Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry official told Reuters on Friday.
Kendrick Lamar and Lady Gaga lead the 2026 Grammy nominations, while K-Pop enters the Song of the Year category for the first time in the award’s history.
Israel launched airstrikes on southern Lebanon after ordering evacuations, accusing Hezbollah of rebuilding its forces despite a year-old ceasefire, as Lebanon and the United Nations warned of renewed border tensions.
U.S. Senate Republicans have blocked a resolution that would have barred President Donald Trump from launching military action against Venezuela without congressional approval, despite growing concern over recent U.S. strikes in the southern Caribbean.
The driver who rammed his car into a crowd in western France on Wednesday is suspected of "self-radicalisation" and had "explicit religious references" at home, the country's Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said on Thursday.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk won shareholder approval on Thursday for the largest corporate pay package in history as investors endorsed his vision of morphing the electric vehicle (EV) maker into an artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics juggernaut.
The Trump administration is seeking to make sharing data about pathogens a condition for countries receiving U.S. health aid, according to a draft document obtained by Reuters.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appointed a new commander for drone air defences on Friday, recognising the critical role these defences play in countering the threat of Russian drones.
A majority of judges on Brazil's Supreme Court panel voted on Friday to dismiss former President Jair Bolsonaro's appeal against his 27-year prison sentence for allegedly plotting a coup to remain in power after the 2022 presidential election.
The United States has expressed full support for the European Union's proposal to use frozen Russian assets to aid Ukraine and bring an end to the war with Russia, a U.S. source familiar with the matter told Reuters on Friday.
The European Commission has tightened Schengen visa rules for Russian citizens, limiting most new applicants to single-entry permits, citing security risks linked to the war in Ukraine.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment