I watched videos of several Tesla’s robotaxi rides in Austin today, posted by YouTubers that had been invited by Tesla to give it a try.
The robotaxi really a standard Tesla Model Y.
The displays on the main console and the backseat console have just been tailored to offer the robotaxi experience.
The passenger hails the robotaxi on the robotaxi app (that works similar to Uber, I’m sure), hops in, is instructed on the small backseat console to fasten their seatbelt.
Then a Start Ride button appears on the touchscreen, and off the robotaxi goes.
At any time, a button on the touchscreen can be used to instruct the taxi to pull over (presumably for an emergency, so that the passenger can get out).
I think there is a support button on the screen as well, to place a call with.
P.S. Here comes a Cybertruck (on the left), and the white car behind it in the distance, is a Waymo self-driving car. Waymo is Google’s offering of fully autonomous driving technology and ‘robotaxi’ services.
We don’t have Waymo in Seattle yet (scheduled for 2026). If all goes well, we may see Tesla robotaxis operate here in some time 2026, as well.