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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Russia launched a large-scale overnight attack on Ukraine’s energy system early on Saturday (7 January), hitting power generation and distribution facilities with more than 400 drones and around 40 missiles, Ukrainian officials have said.
The Netherlands has returned a 3,500-year-old Egyptian sculpture to Egypt, after an investigation confirmed the artefact had been looted and unlawfully removed from the country.
Storm Leonardo hit Spain and Portugal on Tuesday, forcing more than 11,000 people from their homes, as a man in Portugal died after his car was swept away by floodwaters and a second body was found in Malaga.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 7th of February, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Winter weather has brought air travel in the German capital to a complete halt, stranding thousands of passengers as severe icing conditions make runways and aircraft unsafe for operation and force authorities to shut down one of Europe’s key transport hubs.
Storm Leonardo hit Spain and Portugal on Tuesday, forcing more than 11,000 people from their homes, as a man in Portugal died after his car was swept away by floodwaters and a second body was found in Malaga.
An attacker opened fire at the gates of a Shiite Muslim mosque in Islamabad on Friday before detonating a suicide bomb that killed at least 31 people in the deadliest assault of its kind in the capital in more than a decade.
Alphabet is emerging as a frontrunner in the global artificial intelligence race, as analysts and executives say Google has overtaken OpenAI, marking a sharp reversal from a year ago when the company was widely seen as lagging.
Using art as a quiet alarm, a new exhibition in Baku is drawing attention to endangered wildlife and the need for environmental responsibility.
Russia launched a large-scale overnight attack on Ukraine’s energy system early on Saturday (7 January), hitting power generation and distribution facilities with more than 400 drones and around 40 missiles, Ukrainian officials have said.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 7th of February, covering the latest developments you need to know.
U.S. and Ukrainian negotiators have discussed an ambitious goal of reaching a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine by March, though the timeline is widely viewed as unrealistic due to deep disagreements over territory, according to multiple sources familiar with the talks.
At least 31 people have been killed and scores wounded in a suicide bombing at a mosque in Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad, during Friday prayers, prompting widespread international condemnation.
Lebanese Army Commander Gen. Rodolphe Haykal met with senior U.S. officials in Washington, D.C., this week to discuss strengthening military and security cooperation, regional developments and the challenges facing Lebanon, the Lebanese army said on Friday.
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