Robotaxi is landing quickly? Tesla's latest release

On December 21 local time, Tesla announced on social media that the era of autonomous ride-hailing (Robotaxi) is closer than expected.

With the launch of the FSD V13 version, Tesla's autonomous driving technology has made further progress. Tesla CEO Elon Musk stated that the company expects to launch an unmanned autonomous ride-hailing service in some U.S. cities by 2025.

It is worth noting that Tesla's stock price has been declining continuously, with a cumulative pullback of over 12%.

Tesla's autonomous ride-hailing plan accelerates, Musk pushes for "unregulated" technology implementation

Since Musk showcased the Tesla Robotaxi at a press conference in early October, the company has been accelerating its Robotaxi plan. On December 21, Tesla stated on the X platform: "The era of autonomous ride-hailing is closer than you think."

On the same day, Musk also expressed on social media: "If you haven't tried the latest autonomous driving, you're missing out. The new version is amazing and will leave you in awe! — Pure magic."

It is reported that on December 2, 2024, Tesla announced the launch of the FSD V13 version, which is the latest iteration of its highest-level driving assistance software. The newly launched FSD V13 autonomous driving assistance system is described as a "complete rewrite," featuring significant technological advancements that pave the way for Tesla's Robotaxi service.

Tesla's Vice President of Artificial Intelligence, Ashok Elluswamy, previously stated that this version of FSD has undergone a complete technical rewrite, similar to SpaceX's Starship Raptor V3 engine, with a cleaner and simpler architecture. Yun-Ta Tsai, a member of Tesla's AI team, stated that FSD V13 represents the largest technological innovation since they launched the "Photon Counting" project four years ago, with the system's end-to-end network capable of achieving automated transport from parking space to parking space.

Although FSD V13 enhances autonomous driving capabilities, it still requires human supervision. Musk expects FSD to reach a level superior to human drivers by early 2025 and plans to launch the robot taxi service in the same year. Investors are eagerly anticipating the iteration of FSD, as it relates to the rollout of Tesla's Robotaxi service.

It is noteworthy that Tesla's autonomous ride-hailing plan is not limited to software updates; the company is also engaging in preliminary cooperation with the city government of Austin, Texas, to explore the possibility of launching unmanned vehicles in the state. According to public emails, Tesla has been in communication with Austin's autonomous driving task force since May 2024, aiming to meet the city's safety standards and provide relevant training for first responders Tesla is considering Austin as the first Texas city to deploy autonomous ride-hailing taxis.

Musk has stated that Tesla plans to launch Robotaxi in 2025, but he has also acknowledged that Tesla has frequently delayed its timeline for the rollout of autonomous driving technology. In October of this year, Tesla showcased its long-awaited pedal-less autonomous taxi prototype "Cybercab" and announced the launch of an "unmonitored version" of FSD in California and Texas. Despite these plans generating significant interest from investors, many questions remain regarding the technology's implementation.

As Tesla accelerates its push for autonomous ride-hailing services, Musk is also advocating for a relaxation of autonomous driving technology regulations nationwide in the U.S. He hopes for more policy support for autonomous driving technology under the Trump administration. It is understood that Tesla faces fewer regulatory hurdles for autonomous vehicles in Texas, as the state's regulations for autonomous vehicles are similar to those for traditional cars, with no additional city-level regulations.

In contrast to Tesla, General Motors' Cruise announced in early December that it would suspend its autonomous taxi operations due to high costs and the fact that it is no longer considered a core business for the company. Cruise's autonomous vehicles have encountered numerous issues in Austin, including vehicle shutdowns and traffic congestion. Austin Mayor Kirk Watson has taken a cautious stance on autonomous driving technology, believing that while it has potential, it is still not mature.

Tesla's Autonomous Taxis: A Triple Test of Technology, Trust, and Regulation

Tesla's market value has surpassed $1 trillion again since Trump's election, one of the main reasons being market expectations for autonomous driving technology. Musk has consistently emphasized that autonomous driving is Tesla's future, and the U.S. government has begun to pay attention to this field, especially with support from the Trump administration, where teams are working on establishing a "federal autonomous vehicle (AV) framework."

However, despite government policy support, Tesla still faces numerous challenges in the development of autonomous driving technology. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has intensified its oversight of Tesla since 2023, particularly regarding the performance of its Full Self-Driving (FSD) system. NHTSA has initiated multiple investigations into the performance of Tesla's FSD system in low visibility conditions and the company's marketing practices regarding this technology. Additionally, the U.S. Department of Justice is investigating whether Tesla has engaged in false advertising. Tesla has even referred to FSD as "fully autonomous driving under supervision," a vague statement that reflects the pressure the company faces in promoting its technology.

Nevertheless, there is still significant demand for Tesla's autonomous taxis within the legal framework. It is understood that U.S. legislation limits the number and scope of autonomous taxis. Current laws stipulate that each manufacturer can deploy a maximum of 2,500 autonomous vehicles that meet safety standards each year, while Musk's plan is to expand this number to over 2 million. Whether this limitation will be relaxed remains uncertain, but some legal experts believe that NHTSA has the authority to modify these standards to provide more vehicle exemptions for companies like Tesla Apart from legislation, another point of contention is whether the U.S. federal government should take full control of the regulation of autonomous vehicles. While federal vehicle safety standards dominate across the United States, state governments still have significant authority on certain details, especially regarding vehicle operation and maintenance. For example, Tesla plans to retrofit existing cars into autonomous taxis using FSD technology, and this "human-owned but autonomous driving" model may lead to more legal conflicts between state and federal authorities.

Unlike Tesla, Waymo, the autonomous driving company under Google, has been more cautious in the autonomous taxi sector. According to previous reports, Waymo focuses on operating high-end customized vehicles in a few specific cities and has a slower expansion pace. In contrast, Tesla conducts large-scale "beta testing" by collecting data from existing customers, and this extensive experimental nature exposes Tesla's technology to more challenges.

However, whether it is technological advancement or policy changes, public trust remains the key to the success of autonomous vehicles. Daniel Sinker of the American Bar Association previously stated that the difference between autonomous vehicles and traditional vehicles lies in the manufacturer's commitment to system performance. Currently, autonomous driving technology has not been experienced in the daily lives of most people, and if an accident occurs due to a technical failure, it could have a profound impact on public trust.

Bloomberg columnist Liam Denning stated that while the U.S. government may introduce regulations regarding autonomous driving in the future, these regulations should not overly favor any particular company, especially given the immaturity of automotive technology. Establishing fair and transparent laws can not only ensure public safety but also promote healthy technological development. If regulations are too lenient and fail to provide sufficient protection for the public, it could lead to widespread distrust of autonomous vehicles in the market.

Source: Securities Times