Featured Image Credit: Tesla
It took long enough, but after years of revving its engine, Tesla has finally gotten its long-awaited robotaxi plans off the ground.
Elon Musk made bold promises about autonomous full self-driving taxis back in 2016, and while some thought it would never happen, he's finally launched the first wave of robotaxis in Austin, Texas.
Although Elon Musk has repeatedly been promising robotaxis in the next couple of years, he's finally rolled out a small test demo to a select few invitees.
Alongside criticisms that Musk is fudging the reviews by inviting pro-Tesla enthusiasts to try out the robotaxi, this could be the least of the EV giant's problems.
Advert
Numerous clips have started circulating online, seeming to show some concerning incidents involving the self-driving robotaxis.
While robotaxi is hoping to secure Tesla's financial future following a period of uncertainty, the scheme is facing some (literal) bumps in the road.
Notably, the Tesla robotaxi still demands that a human passenger sit in the front of the vehicle so they can intervene in the case of an emergency.
Alongside the beefy price tag to ride in a robotaxi, you might want to take a second thought about hailing one, thanks to an extensive Reddit thread showing off a growing number of gremlins in the system.
From robotaxis failing to detect a UPS truck to robotaxis speeding, there are also vehicles swerving into the wrong lane or dropping passengers off in the middle of busy intersections.
Notably, one clip where a robotaxi faces a 'shopping bag' is ringing alarm bells.
In a video shared on YouTube, the passenger claims the robotaxi comes across a shopping bag (that we can't see), then adds: "It's just going to run over it, fantastic!"
Some think there's more to the clip, noting how the vehicle visibly looks like it rides over something substantial rather than a plastic bag floating in the wind.
Responding to the clip, one concerned viewer wrote: "That is potentially concerning behavior that it stopped instead of going around and then proceeded potentially still not knowing what it was.
If someone crashed their bike or something and had a leg sticking into the road--would it stop, hesitate about it, and then run it over too?"
Another added: "Stopping on the road for a plastic bag? Apparently the rules need a bit of tuning. Maybe ask Waymo for an update table, they have implemented rules for every possible object years ago."
When The Verge shared the Reddit thread, the comments were equally filled with worry.
One dismayed onlooker simply said: "People will die here if this ever actually launches outside of this highly controlled demo environment."
It's a shaky start for Tesla, and already, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has been in touch with Tesla over footage of robotaxis breaking traffic laws.
In a statement, the NHTSA said it was "aware of the referenced incidents and is in contact with the manufacturer to gather additional information."
Still, as the Reddit thread continues to grow with more behaving robotaxis, it's clear there are still a few bugs in the system.
