It’s finally happening. After years of promises, missed timelines dating back to the “Autonomy Day” in 2019, and endless iterations of “Full Self-Driving” (FSD), a Tesla vehicle has been spotted driving on public roads in Austin without anyone in the driver’s seat or a safety monitor in the passenger seat.

Elon Musk has confirmed that Robotaxi testing has officially commenced. This is undeniably a step forward for the company’s autonomy ambitions.

But it is also a terrifying leap of faith, given the complete lack of safety data proving the system is ready for this.

The sighting, captured over the weekend by locals in Austin, shows what appears to be a specially outfitted Model Y, presumably a testbed for the upcoming dedicated Robotaxi platform, navigating city streets. The steering wheel is turning, the car is moving, and the driver’s seat and front passenger seat are empty:

Advertisement – scroll for more content

Following the online buzz surrounding the sighting, Elon Musk took to X to confirm the obvious:

“Testing is underway with no occupant in the car.”

In isolation, this is exciting news. It suggests Tesla has reached an internal confidence level in their latest FSD builds for Robotaxi (not in consumer vehicles) where they feel comfortable pulling the human monitor.

It’s the tangible progress toward the driverless future many Tesla owners bought into years ago.

However, there’s still a lot of room for concerns.

Tesla has, to date, never released comprehensive, verifiable data proving that its FSD system is safer than a human driver. We get anecdotal evidence, curated video clips, and high-level statistics about “miles driven,” but not the granular disengagement data that competitors like Waymo provide to regulators and the public.

In fact, the data we do have, based on incident reports submitted to the NHTSA under their Standing General Order regarding ADS and ADAS systems, paints a worrying picture.

The data pointed to Tesla’s Robotaxi pilot in Austin having a crash every ~62,000 miles, significantly higher than the human average, despite a safety monitor inside the car that should have prevented further crashes.

CEO Elon Musk said last week that he expects Tesla’s Robotaxi service in Austin will be without a safety monitor within three weeks.

Electrek’s Take

Think about that for a second. The current fleet requires human intervention to avoid crashes. We know this. If human interventions are currently preventing accidents, common sense dictates that removing the human without a massive, documented improvement in the system’s base capability will lead to more incidents.

Tesla seems to be skipping the “prove it’s safe” phase and jumping straight to the “deploy it” phase.

I want Tesla to succeed here. A functional, scalable Robotaxi network would be a civilization-level improvement in transport. Seeing a driverless Tesla on public roads might feel like a visceral milestone, proof that the technology is advancing.

But “advancing” is not the same as “safe.”

I have serious concerns about the fact that Tesla has consistently avoided releasing verifiable, valuable data on the safety of FSD or its Robotaxi pilot program.

We have to try ourselves to match Tesla’s sparse release of Robotaxi mileage to the limited crash data reported to NHTSA. And that doesn’t look very good for Tesla.

So far, and even with this sighting, the Robotaxi program in Austin seems more of a marketing effort than the true first step toward scaling a driverless ride-hailing service. It looks like an effort to manufacture a win while Waymo rapidly scales its commercial driverless system.

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

The Cat 793 XE Early Learner battery-electric haul trucks deliver all the performance of its diesel-powered siblings without the noise, vibrations, and harmful emissions – and now, they’re being put to the test at BHP’s iron ore mine in Australia.

Part of a collaborative effort between BHP and Rio Tinto to help decarbonize BHP’s Jimblebar iron ore mine in the Pilbara, these 240-ton Cat 793 XE Early Learner electric haul trucks represent a major step toward a more sustainable future in mining, designed to deliver zero exhaust emissions while maintaining productivity and performance.

“Powering up our first battery-electric haul trucks in the Pilbara is an important step forward on the mining industry’s road to decarbonization,” says BHP Western Australia Iron Ore Asset president, Tim Day. “Replacing diesel isn’t just about changing energy sources, it’s about reimagining how we operate and creating the technologies, infrastructure, and supply chains to transform mining operations. These trials will help us understand how all the pieces of the puzzle fit together: the battery technologies, generation and charging infrastructure, power management, as well as the supply chains to potentially deliver this at scale.”

Like the two trucks deployed at Newmont’s Cripple Creek and Victor mine in Teller County, CO last year, this phase of Caterpillar’s Early Learner program will see the company attempt to integrate multiple electrified trucks at a single site with remote operators, validating the integration of a battery electric fleet with CAT’s existing autonomous and fleet management systems.

Advertisement – scroll for more content

Decarbonisation of Pilbara iron ore operations will rely on technology advancements and breakthroughs in research and development, which is why BHP and Rio Tinto are working closely with Caterpillar to accelerate their fleets’ transition to electric power.

That, and the fact that they’re watching global mining giants Fortescue slash hundreds of millions of dollars from their operating costs by switching to electric, and (presumably) want to get in on that action sooner than later.

Despite the urgency, however, they need to get it right or risk huge disruptions that will eat up any projected efficiency gains. “A significant shift like this demands a strong commitment to research and development, coupled with collaboration across the industry,” adds Day. “This is going to take time to get right, which is why trials like this one with Rio Tinto and Caterpillar are so critical.”

Caterpillar 793 XE Early Learner

The big Caterpillar haul truck is powered by a 564 kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery pack that sends electrons to a 480 kW (645 hp) electric motor that kicks out an undisclosed amount of torque – but which is more than capable of hauling 250 tons of truck and payload at the same 38 mph to speed as its 2,650 hp diesel-powered bretheren.

The best part: in the right conditions, a heavily-loaded haul truck can rely on regenerative braking to keep it topped off, enabling ’round-the-clock operation without the need to stop and charge – a trick diesel trucks absolutely cannot match.

SOURCE | IMAGES: Caterpillar, via Heavy Equipment Guide.

If you’re considering going solar, it’s always a good idea to get quotes from a few installers. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use, and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them. 

Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.

Volkswagen is putting its Tesla Robotaxi rival through its paces in Wolfsburg, Germany, where the self-driving Gen.Urban research vehicle is now driving autonomously in real urban traffic – without a steering wheel or pedals!

VW’s Gen.Urban research project sets out to explore how passengers experience riding in a self-driving vehicle on real roads, among real drivers, and without a traditional steering wheel or pedals, and what those requirements might mean for future vehicle concepts.

Some of the key questions VW is asking include:

• How do people spend their time in a self-driving vehicle?
• Which digital features best support work, entertainment, or relaxation?
• How should interaction between the vehicle and passengers be designed, particularly for older people or children?
• Most importantly: Do people feel comfortable?

“The technology for autonomous driving is making rapid progress,” explains Dr. Nikolai Ardey, Head of Volkswagen Group Innovation. “With our Gen.Urban research vehicle, we want to understand exactly how passengers experience autonomous driving. Because: The key to a positive customer experience is to build trust – through meaningful interaction, a relaxed atmosphere, and intelligent assistance systems that respond precisely to the needs of passengers. Ultimately, technology should fit people, not the other way around. We will benefit from these insights across the entire Group in the long term.”

Advertisement – scroll for more content

Not QUITE fully autonomous

It’s important to note here that, while Volkswagen designed the Gen.Urban without a steering wheel or pedals, the vehicles participating in these test have a trained safety driver monitoring the vehicle from the passenger seat, ready to step in to control the vehicle using a specially developed control panel with a joystick – which means we’re still a long way from the 2022 Volkswagen Gen.Travel concept (above).

Even so, Volkswagen’s autonomous driving efforts have been in public testing phases since at least 2023, when the company unveiled a fleet of ten specially modified VW.Buzz AD electric vans. Tests with those vans have gone well enough, at least, to lead Volkswagen to announce plans for large-scale production.

The current test phase is limited to Volkswagen Group employees as riders, and is planned for a period of several weeks. If results are satisfactory, VW could expand its rider base by the end of Q1.

SOURCE | IMAGES: Volkswagen.

If you’re considering going solar, it’s always a good idea to get quotes from a few installers. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use, and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them. 

Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.