Insiders Unveil Tesla's Secret Prep for June Robotaxi Launch

• Tesla has announced that its robotaxi service in Austin, Texas, will be launched in June.
• The firm employs roughly 300 test operators and has focused on accumulating significant mileage.
• It launched a trial version of its robotaxi application for use by Autopilot engineers and organized an event involving nearby emergency services personnel.

Tesla is speeding towards its intended target. robotaxi debut In June, hundreds of test drivers discreetly laid the foundation across Austin.

In recent months, roughly 300 Tesla test drivers have been navigating the city’s roads non-stop day and night utilizing versions of the firm's autonomous driving technology as part of what the company refers to internally as " Project Rodeo ."

Prior to the release, Tesla organized a training session for local emergency services personnel, developed crucial routes, assembled a group of remote control specialists, and released an early version of their robotaxi application exclusively to Autopilot engineers stationed in both Austin and San Francisco.

The carmaker has used test drivers To refine its sophisticated driver-assistance technology since at least 2016, but Tesla has stepped up these endeavors over the last year, according to four people who previously worked for or currently work with the company.

In April 2024, during Tesla’s layoffs, multiple test driver positions were cut, and Project Rodeo was reassigned from overall vehicle testing to the Autopilot division led by Ashok Elluswamy, who serves as the company’s VP of AI Software. This information comes from three individuals familiar with these changes, reported BI.

Since then, the intensity of the program has significantly intensified, and numerous workers have transitioned from maintenance tasks. Tesla's Full Self-Driving system According to two individuals, efforts are underway for the development of robotaxis.

A looming deadline

Tesla internally aims to launch the project by June 1, according to sources inside the company. During weekly Autopilot meetings with Elluswamy’s team, Musk was informed consistently that they remain on schedule to meet this target date.

Employees mentioned that they hadn't been provided with specific information regarding the event or what it would involve.

In public, it has offered only a few specifics. Tesla's earnings call On Tuesday, Musk announced that residents of Austin could use a self-driving Model Y for rides at a cost. He predicted that the service would start with between 10 and 20 vehicles.

A previous employee mentioned, 'Everything seems overly contrived,'" they stated. "'This marks a significant milestone for Tesla; however, simultaneously, numerous final aspects appear unresolved at the eleventh hour.'

A single employee referred to the June 1 deadline as more of an "inspiration" or "encouragement."

They stated that a deadline of June 1 increases the likelihood of a launch on June 30.

Tesla hasn't set an exact date for the event apart from specifying it will be in June. The firm did not reply to requests seeking more information.

Key hurdles

The ex-employee mentioned that meeting the June 1 deadline poses difficulties because of the challenge involved in accumulating essential mileage—testing conducted under intricate or risky conditions like maneuvering through dense traffic, executing unprotected left turns, or reacting to abrupt hindrances.

These situations are essential for assessing if the autonomous driving system can manage extreme cases without human input.

Test drivers who talked to BI mentioned that the testing procedure includes gathering important mileage data. Tesla allocates test drivers to specific testing paths, such as "critical" circuits designed for pushing limits, where they’re advised not to interfere unless necessary, along with "adversarial" courses meant to mimic urgent situations like merging back into traffic after stopping at the side of the road.

Elluswamy stated during the earnings call that it's "incredibly uncommon" to receive crucial interventions, adding that test drivers may not have any interventions for days at a time.

He mentioned that it isn't simple to determine if you're advancing or declining in your abilities when using autonomous software.

Tesla has also collaborated with local emergency responders, as evidenced by documents acquired by Business Insider. The firm interacted with the city’s autonomous vehicle task force—which comprises representatives from the Austin Fire Department—in December. Records indicate that Tesla initially made contact in the spring of 2024.

In March, Tesla conducted roughly six hours of tests involving emergency personnel such as police officers and firefighters at a private proving ground, according to a previous employee. The participants, which included around 60 drivers, alternated between using Tesla’s test cars and their own personal vehicles to simulate typical driving conditions.

A representative from the Austin Police Department verified that Tesla conducted a testing event involving first responders from Austin, Williamson County, as well as the Texas Department of Public Safety.

Representatives from the Austin Fire Department and the autonomous vehicle task force did not reply to requests for their input.

Engineers are currently testing the robotaxi application.

Tesla has begun demoing its robotaxi app with employees. The carmaker released an Apple TestFlight version to engineers earlier this year.

It was released in Austin and the San Francisco Bay Area. It allows Tesla employees to get free rides within a geofenced region, a virtual area that denotes where the vehicle can safely operate, two people said. In Austin, the robotaxi service is set to roll out across such an area, a person with knowledge of the program said.

The demonstration program includes a safety driver seated at the wheel, ready to intervene if necessary. Some have suggested employing remotely located operators as safety drivers once the service becomes publicly available, according to two individuals privy to these plans. These personnel work from a specific site in California equipped with remote control systems, one of them mentioned.

Two individuals stated that the firm has shifted certain test drivers into positions as remote operators. During Tesla’s robotaxi presentation in October, remote operators were present; these employees are instructed to intervene solely in emergencies, similar to how remote operators function at companies such as Waymo or Zoox, according to them.

Although Austin and San Francisco continue to be key locations for testing, Tesla also utilizes test drivers in various other urban centers such as New York, Phoenix, Seattle, and Atlanta. According to Musk, these autonomous vehicles will gradually expand into additional cities throughout the year.

Currently, Austin serves as the primary testing area for Tesla drivers.

Throughout Tuesday, there has been a continuous procession of Tesla vehicles circling around Austin," Musk commented. "The sight will be quite peculiar.

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