Musk Says Tesla’s Self-Driving Trials Will be Limited to The Safest Areas of Austin

Tesla will launch its long-awaited robotaxi test in Austin, Texas, next month, but will limit it to areas the company considers “the safest,” CEO Elon Musk told CNBC on Tuesday.

Tesla Robotaxis to Steer Clear of Complex Intersections

Musk explained that Tesla vehicles will avoid complex intersections unless the system is highly confident in its ability to handle them, opting instead for alternate routes. “We’re going to be extremely cautious with the rollout, as we should be. It would be unwise not to be,” he said.

This use of geofencing—a method of confining autonomous vehicles to specific zones—marks a significant shift in strategy for Musk, who had long touted Tesla’s goal of developing a general-purpose self-driving system capable of operating anywhere without human input. Musk added that similar pilot programs may launch in California and other states later this year.

Musk Signals Shift Toward Geofencing in Early Robotaxi Deployment

Musk hinted at the use of geofencing during Tesla’s first-quarter earnings call in April, though he didn’t explicitly confirm it as the company’s chosen strategy. At the time, he mentioned it was “increasingly likely” that early robotaxi deployments would rely on a “localized parameter set.”

Reinforcing Tesla’s cautious approach, Musk said Tuesday that the company will have employees remotely monitor the initial fleet of about 10 Model Y SUVs running the “unsupervised” version of its Full Self-Driving software. These vehicles, he added, will operate without a safety driver inside.

“I think it makes sense to begin with a small fleet, ensure everything is running smoothly, and then gradually expand based on performance,” Musk explained.

Autonomous vehicle companies such as Waymo typically operate a control center where staff monitor robotaxis and offer remote assistance when necessary. In a 2024 blog post, Waymo explained that it doesn’t directly control the vehicles. Instead, human operators interact with the self-driving system by asking and answering questions to provide context and support its decision-making process.

Read the original article on: TechCrunch

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