Tesla’s robotaxi service, touted by Elon Musk as the future of his flagging electric-car maker, launched in the company’s home city of Austin on Sunday with about 10 vehicles and a human safety driver on board amid regulatory scrutiny of its self-driving technology. Shares in Tesla have risen about 50 per cent from this year’s low in early April, with investors hopeful the autonomous ride-hailing service will help revive a company that has suffered declining sales and a consumer backlash against Musk’s political activism. Despite the hype surrounding Tesla’s robotaxi, the launch — with a company employee seated in the passenger side for safety while leaving the driver’s seat empty — was low-key and the initial service was open only to a select group of social media influencers. Shortly before the launch, Musk said on social media that the robotaxi service would begin “with customers paying a $4.20 flat fee”. According to Musk, who has stepped back from his US government role to focus on the electric-car maker and the robotaxi, the self-driving Tesla Model Y vehicles will only operate in limited areas, avoid challenging intersections, and have teleoperators who can intervene if problems arise.

Full report : Tesla’s Austin robotaxi service gets a limited launch, with ~10 Model Y vehicles and safety drivers; Elon Musk says initial users will pay “a $4.20 flat fee.”