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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The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has announced that repair crews have commenced restoring external power lines to the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) in southeastern Ukraine.
At least 17 people died when a passenger bus overturned in northeastern Brazil, authorities confirmed on Saturday.
Egypt has agreed with Iran, the United States, and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to maintain ongoing consultations aimed at finding a breakthrough in the Iranian nuclear file, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry announced on Saturday.
At least five militants, including two commanders, were killed in northwestern Pakistan after security forces foiled a planned terrorist attack, officials said on Saturday.
Video from the USGS (United States Geological Survey) showed on Friday (19 September) the Kilauea volcano in Hawaii erupting and spewing lava.
At least 69 people have died and almost 150 injured following a powerful 6.9-magnitude earthquake off the coast of Cebu City in the central Visayas region of the Philippines, officials said, making it one of the country’s deadliest disasters this year.
A tsunami threat was issued in Chile after a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck the Drake Passage on Friday. The epicenter was located 135 miles south of Puerto Williams on the north coast of Navarino Island.
The war in Ukraine has reached a strategic impasse, and it seems that the conflict will not be solved by military means. This creates a path toward one of two alternatives: either a “frozen” phase that can last indefinitely or a quest for a durable political regulation.
A shooting in Nice, southeastern France, left two people dead and five injured on Friday, authorities said.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced his intention to run in the upcoming general elections, expressing confidence that he will be re-elected as prime minister.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has announced that repair crews have commenced restoring external power lines to the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) in southeastern Ukraine.
At least 17 people died when a passenger bus overturned in northeastern Brazil, authorities confirmed on Saturday.
Egypt has agreed with Iran, the United States, and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to maintain ongoing consultations aimed at finding a breakthrough in the Iranian nuclear file, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry announced on Saturday.
At least five militants, including two commanders, were killed in northwestern Pakistan after security forces foiled a planned terrorist attack, officials said on Saturday.
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