Tesla(US:TSLA) CNBC·2026-01-22 23:14Core Insights - Tesla has begun operating a limited number of Robotaxi vehicles in Austin, Texas, without human drivers or safety supervisors, marking a significant step in its autonomous ride-hailing service [2][3] - The company aims to scale its driverless ride-hailing service across the U.S. by the end of the year, despite previous delays in achieving similar goals [5][7] - Tesla faces competition from other companies in the autonomous vehicle space, with Alphabet's Waymo leading in the U.S. and Baidu's Apollo Go in China [1] Company Developments - Tesla's Robotaxi service in Austin includes a mix of supervised and unsupervised vehicles, with plans to increase the ratio of driverless vehicles over time [2] - The company has obtained a permit in Texas to operate a transportation networking company using automated driving systems, but has not secured similar permits in California for driverless testing [4] - Tesla's CEO, Elon Musk, has expressed confidence in the company's ability to achieve widespread autonomous ride-hailing by the end of the year, although he has a history of missing self-imposed deadlines [5][6] Market Context - Surveys indicate that a majority of U.S. consumers are hesitant to ride in robotaxis, primarily due to safety concerns [8] - Analysts from Deutsche Bank predict muted growth for Tesla and Rivian, emphasizing the need for Tesla to demonstrate the effectiveness of its unsupervised Full Self-Driving (FSD) system and the scaling of its robotaxi service [9] - Regulatory scrutiny has increased, with California regulators finding Tesla engaged in deceptive marketing regarding its driverless capabilities, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration investigating potential safety violations related to Tesla's FSD systems [10] Safety Concerns - Reports indicate that there have been 65 fatalities in Tesla crashes involving Autopilot, with some incidents occurring while the FSD systems were engaged [11]