A milestone moment for autonomous driving as Tesla advances its AI and robotics ambitions
Austin, Texas, 5 February 2026 – Tesla has taken a significant step in its self-driving journey by opening robotaxi rides to the public in Austin without a safety monitor seated in the front seat. The move signals growing confidence in the company’s autonomous driving technology and its long-term vision for AI-powered mobility.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced the development on social media, saying the company has started robotaxi drives in Austin with no in-car safety monitor. He congratulated Tesla’s artificial intelligence team, calling the moment an important breakthrough in real-world autonomy.
While the announcement marks progress, Tesla executive Ashok Elluswamy clarified that some vehicles in the robotaxi fleet will still operate with safety monitors for now. According to Elluswamy, a limited number of vehicles will begin running unsupervised, with that number increasing gradually over time.
Tesla’s robotaxi program initially launched using Model Y vehicles equipped with its Full Self-Driving software. Earlier versions included safety monitors ready to take control if needed. The company now believes its system is ready to handle select routes and conditions without human supervision.
The robotaxi rollout is part of Tesla’s broader push into artificial intelligence and robotics. Musk has emphasized that autonomy is central not only to self-driving cars but also to the company’s humanoid robot project, Optimus. He recently said solving real-world AI for robots will be far more complex than autonomous vehicles, and invited engineers to apply to join Tesla’s AI team.
Industry watchers see the removal of safety monitors as a meaningful signal. Fund manager Gary Black described the move as a positive catalyst, suggesting it points to future large-scale deployment of unsupervised autonomous vehicles. However, he also noted that competition in the autonomous space is intense, with rivals already offering fully driverless services in select markets.
Investor interest followed the announcement, with Tesla shares trading higher during the session. Online investor communities showed rising optimism, with discussions focused on Tesla’s ability to scale its autonomous fleet faster than competitors.
Looking ahead, Tesla expects robotaxis to become more common across the U.S. and plans to commercialize its Optimus humanoid robots later this decade. While challenges remain, the Austin robotaxi launch marks another step toward Tesla’s goal of reshaping transportation through autonomous and AI-driven technology.
