Two Months Into Tesla's Robotaxi Launch: Where Does It Stand Now?

Core Insights - Tesla's robotaxi service in Austin has begun, with initial reports indicating mixed experiences from passengers, including abrupt braking and confusion during rides [1][2] - The company claims that its Full Self-Driving (FSD) system is statistically safer than human drivers, with a reported 10 times safety improvement [4] - Tesla aims to expand its robotaxi service to cover half of the U.S. population by the end of 2025, pending regulatory approvals [5][10] Company Developments - Tesla's robotaxi service logged over 7,000 miles without major safety incidents shortly after launch [2][10] - The FSD Version 12 has led to a 45% increase in subscription adoption, with expectations for further gains from Version 14 [4][10] - New vehicles are being designed for autonomous deliveries directly to customers by the end of the year in select regions [5] Competitive Landscape - Alphabet's Waymo is a significant competitor, operating fully driverless services in multiple cities and delivering around 250,000 paid rides weekly [7] - Baidu's Apollo Go program is also a major player, running fully driverless services across 16 cities globally and completing over 14 million rides [8] Market Outlook - Tesla's robotaxi initiative is still in the early stages, with tangible progress but trailing behind leaders like Waymo and Baidu [9] - The company's future in this sector hinges on overcoming regulatory challenges and delivering on its ambitious promises [9]