The American corporation Tesla has officially launched its robotaxi service for a limited number of users. This development was first reported by the publication Insider.
The initial rides took place on Sunday, June 22nd. At present, the service is operational only in Austin, Texas. The automated taxi service is currently running in a restricted mode, available to a small group of users who previously registered their interest in trying the new form of transportation.
During this early phase, the cost of a ride in a Tesla robotaxi is fixed at $4.20, which is approximately 350 Russian rubles. According to company head Elon Musk, the vehicles utilized for the service are new and have been specifically configured for passenger transport. Musk also highlighted that any Tesla electric vehicle can be adapted to be used in a taxi service.
Insider journalists also noted the feedback from one of the first users, Chuck Cook. He mentioned that due to high demand, the wait time for a robotaxi was longer than for a conventional taxi. Cook also reported that during his journey, the car executed several complex maneuvers and successfully parallel parked at the destination.
It`s worth noting that in late April, Tesla began a test phase for its robotaxi service in the US, specifically for its own employees. During that initial testing, an operator was present behind the wheel of the electric cars.
Rupert Blackwood 
Barnaby Whitfield