Tesla Begins Unsupervised Robotaxi Testing in Texas

A Tesla Model Y, modified for Robotaxi use, was observed operating on public streets in Austin, Texas, over the weekend with no occupants in the vehicle. Videos shared online showed the car navigating city roads autonomously, with the steering wheel moving on its own and both front seats empty.

Elon Musk, Tesla CEO, confirmed the development on X, stating: “Testing is underway with no occupants in the car.” This marks the removal of human safety monitors from select test vehicles in Tesla's Robotaxi pilot program, which has been running in Austin since June 2025.

The sighting indicates growing internal confidence in the latest Full Self-Driving (FSD) software builds tailored for Robotaxi operations. It follows Musk's recent statement that unsupervised rides could begin within weeks, aligning with year-end goals for the program.

Tesla's Robotaxi fleet currently operates in a limited area of Austin, primarily with safety monitors in the passenger seat for local roads. The shift to fully empty vehicles represents progress toward the company's long-term vision of a driverless ride-hailing network.

However, safety remains a point of discussion. Tesla has not published detailed disengagement or intervention rates for its system, unlike competitors such as Waymo, which share granular data with regulators.

Available NHTSA crash reports for the Austin pilot show incidents occurring roughly every 62,000 miles in earlier phases, even with human oversight present. These figures are based on reported events up to September 2025, with the fleet having accumulated limited mileage overall.

Critics note that removing monitors without publicly demonstrated improvements could increase risks. Tesla maintains that its data-driven approach, drawing from billions of real-world miles across its customer fleet, supports the transition.

The unsupervised tests are confined to controlled conditions in Austin for now. No timeline has been provided for public access without monitors or expansion beyond the current geo-fenced area.

Also read: Volkswagen Group Launches Autonomous Vehicle Testing on Wolfsburg Streets