Looking back, it’s almost half a decade since Elon Musk professed with great confidence that robotaxis from Tesla would emerge in 2020. His bold assertion came with the caveat that success would hinge on securing regulatory approval—a milestone that, at the time, seemed just on the horizon.
What’s New with Tesla’s Ridesharing App?
Tesla’s recent shareholder communications tantalized with glimpses of a Tesla ridesharing app concept, sparking intrigue with a series of sleek graphics. These visuals are reminiscent of those shared years prior, yet they continue to stoke the imagination about what’s to come.
Pondering the Reality of Tesla’s Autonomous Dreams
There’s room to speculate on how close Tesla is to realizing its autonomous driving goals. Some may argue that the company was overly optimistic back in 2019, while others may believe that today, the finish line is within reach. Skepticism is expected, but it’s not a question of fiction or ridicule—it’s a matter of when.
A Suggestion for Tesla’s Ridesharing Ambitions
However, the anticipation for these robotaxis should not overshadow a potential intermediate step—one that involves a Tesla-operated ride-hailing service utilizing human drivers. Many Tesla owners would likely embrace the opportunity to be part of such an initiative. This service could not only be immediately lucrative but could also lay the groundwork for the eventual integration of autonomous vehicles.
One would think that the aforementioned app visuals hinted at such a project. Regrettably, the language in Tesla’s shareholder letter doesn’t bear this out, focusing instead on the future prospects of full autonomy and robotaxis.
The Current State of Tesla’s Autonomous Technology
In the shareholder letter, Tesla discusses its ongoing investment in autonomy, citing the development of vision-only architecture and neural networks as the pathway to scalable autonomous riding services. The recent launch of Hardware 4.0 brings upgraded processing power and cameras, priming Tesla for future advancements in this area.
The introduction of a supervised Full Self Driving (FSD) version, complete with a free trial, alongside improved functionalities like Autopark, showcases Tesla’s progressive steps toward a ride-hailing future. However, it’s clear this vision is deeply intertwined with the realization of fully autonomous driving capabilities, as there’s no current indication of plans for an app deploying human-driven vehicles.
A Call to Action for Tesla
It may be a strategic oversight for Tesla not to capitalize on their current customer base by launching a human-driven ride-hailing service. Such a move could serve as both a potential source of revenue and a proving ground for their technology, smoothing the transition to the day when robotaxis are no longer just a concept discussed in shareholder letters, but a reality on our streets.
