We checked out Tesla's supervised, invite-only robotaxi launch. Here's what we saw

Core Insights - Tesla's recent launch of its "robotaxi" service was limited in scope, supervised, and only available to a select group of invitees, featuring 10-20 vehicles [1] - The stock price increased by 8% following the launch but has since retraced most of those gains [1] Group 1: Performance and Reception - Wedbush analyst Dan Ives rated the robotaxi experience as a 10 out of 10, highlighting impressive maneuverability and safety [2] - However, there were notable incidents during the launch, including a vehicle driving on the wrong side of the road and another stopping in traffic [2] Group 2: Historical Context and Promises - CEO Elon Musk has made several ambitious claims about Tesla achieving full autonomy since 2016, including a vision for a shared fleet of robotaxis [3] - Musk previously predicted that Tesla would have 1 million robotaxis operational by 2020, a target that has not been met [4] Group 3: Technological Approach - Tesla's approach to autonomy differs from competitors like Waymo and Zoox, as it relies primarily on cameras rather than radar or lidar [5] - The company promotes a "general solution" for full self-driving, aiming for every Tesla to operate autonomously in all conditions globally [6][7] Group 4: Industry Comparisons - Other companies are focusing on deploying autonomous vehicles in contained areas, while Tesla's limited deployment in Austin raises questions about its strategy [8] - Observers suggest that Waymo's approach may be more feasible compared to Tesla's broader ambitions [9] Group 5: Public Sentiment - Despite mixed reviews, some local residents express strong belief in Tesla's future and its technological advancements [10][11]