Tesla Subtly Introduces Robotaxi Rideshare App for Employees | Carscoops

      The automaker reports that it has already tested the system on 1,500 trips covering 15,000 miles.

      Tesla has launched its FSD Supervised ride-hailing service for certain employees.

      Currently, the service is available only to testers located in Austin and San Francisco.

      According to the company, it has already completed 1,500 trips and 15,000 miles of driving.

      Tesla has made a significant advancement towards making robotaxis available to the public. Interestingly, this announcement was not accompanied by much excitement from its CEO. Instead, the company discreetly confirmed on X that it has rolled out its ride-hailing service for select employees.

      The post stated, “FSD Supervised ride-hailing service is live for an early set of employees in Austin & San Francisco Bay Area.” Both cities are crucial for Tesla, as the company has facilities in each. A brief video shared with the announcement provides additional insights into how the service functions.

      A rideshare application features a large button labeled “Pick Me Up.” Upon the car's arrival, users receive a notification along with a reminder to buckle up. A Cybertruck-style font introduces the service as “Robotaxi.” The video suggests that, currently, a human safety driver occupies the driver’s seat during testing.

      Once inside the vehicle, occupants receive a message on the rear-seat infotainment system to confirm their name, address, and expected arrival time. Riders simply press a button labeled “Start Ride,” and the journey begins. Tesla mentions that it has already accomplished 1,500 trips and 15,000 miles of driving.

      The FSD Supervised ride-hailing service is now operational for an initial group of employees in Austin and the San Francisco Bay Area. We’ve completed over 1,500 trips and 15,000 miles of driving. This service aids in the development and validation of FSD networks, the mobile app, vehicle allocation, mission control, and more.

      Notably, the use of the term Robotaxi clarifies an important distinction. While the Cybercab denotes the vehicle, Robotaxi represents a service that can utilize a broader range of Tesla models. It’s likely that they will share certain software and functionalities.

      Perhaps the most surprising aspect is not that this is taking place but that it appears to be on schedule. Elon Musk has often been overly optimistic about the feasibility of true Level 5 driving technology. However, this time, it seems that his assertion that a paid version of this service will launch in June may actually come to fruition. Even so, a full-scale rollout is still expected to take considerable time.