Tesla Robotaxis are already speeding, swerving lanes following late June launch, videos show
Tesla launched its Robotaxi service less than two weeks ago on June 22.
- Tesla premiered its Robotaxi self-driving taxi service in Austin, Texas.
- While many social media influencers and journalists have praised the tech, there are some clear issues depicted in videos.
- Self-driving vehicles will disrupt American taxi business and could cause unforeseen damages.
Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) is having a roller coaster of a year. The clean energy and electric vehicle company's share price plummeted by over 41% from January to April. It has since rebounded by over 42% from its yearly low of $221.86 a share to $315.65 a share as of July 2.
One of the company's latest innovations is the Robotaxi, a fully autonomous Tesla electric vehicle that's able to transport passengers without any interactions or guidance from a driver. The Robotaxi is already under investigation by the United States for breaking the rules of the road, according to The Guardian.
Tesla Robotaxis are already breaking rules after June launch
Tesla has been able to accomplish amazing feats in terms of production, sales, and technological innovations over the years. That said, its CEO Elon Musk has developed a habit of making grandiose claims regarding the true capabilities of products and services. One example is the company's full-self driving software.
The software was involved in at least one fatal crash, as reported by Bloomberg in June. Robotaxis are a much newer product than Tesla's full-self driving system. Since they operate without drivers, it's much easier to assign blame to the technology rather than the driver in instances of accidents or infractions.
So far, Robotaxis have been seen violating traffic laws by crossing yellow lines and exceeding posted speed limits, according to a June 23 video description from Yahoo Finance. This is especially worrisome since the Tesla launched its Robotaxi service less than two weeks ago on June 22.
How safe is a Robotaxi?
It's too early to definitely answer whether or not Tesla's Robotaxi service is safe, but it's clear that riders have experienced some mishaps first-hand. These mishaps range from awkward driving style to clear infractions. So far, the Robotaxi service hasn't been involved in any serious or fatal accidents, but Americans have been compiling different incidents on Reddit.
Robotaxi incidents listed on Reddit thread
- Robotaxi goes 26 MPH in a 15 MPH zone
- Robotaxi cuts off driver and abruptly brakes in front of vehicle
- Tire of Robotaxi touches parked car
While the Robotaxi doesn't appear to be deadly (within the first few weeks of rollout) it's evident that the technology isn't infallible. Additionally, there are instances of the Robotaxi potentially damaging property including stopping so close to a parked vehicle that its tire directly contacted its body.
The future of self-driving cars
Companies like Tesla and Waymo (a subsidiary of Google's Alphabet Inc.) have invested big bucks into self-driving technology. Tesla was early to the semi-autonomous driving game and several automakers have since followed suit. That said, Tesla and Waymo are competing to make driverless vehicles ubiquitous, which could have serious repercussions for the jobs and safety of Americans.
Self-driving taxi services pose a significant threat to traditional taxi services, according to the Brookings Institution, a research foundation in Washington D.C. Based on recent Robotaxi videos, the technology has a long way to go before becoming safe enough to deploy in more major cities.