Tesla Eyes Robotaxis, Gears Up New York Test Car Operator
Robotaxis Progress Worldwide
Baidu’s Apollo Go in Wuhan
Baidu operates the Apollo Go self-driving platform in Wuhan, China, marking a significant step toward autonomous urban vehicles.
Tesla’s New York Driver‑Assistance Test
Tesla is hiring a Vehicle Operator, Autopilot to test its driver‑assistance system in Queens, New York. The job requires:
- Driving an engineering vehicle for extended periods
- Collecting dynamic audio and camera data for testing and training
Current State of Autonomous Vehicles in NYC
The role is still far from enabling full autonomous or robotaxi services in New York City. State law limits autonomous car usage to testing.
Waymo’s Upcoming Testing Permit
Waymo applied in June for a permit to begin testing self‑driving cars, indicating a growing regulatory interest across the US.
Tesla is preparing to launch robotaxi services across the United States
Billionaire chief executive Elon Musk has indicated that Tesla is ready to deploy autonomous vehicles on a rapid scale, citing the company’s use of artificial intelligence to process real‑world data collected from its existing fleet.
Limited robotaxi service inaugurated in Austin, Texas
After several delays, Tesla entered the market in June with a restricted robotaxi program in Austin, Texas.
Musk’s ambitious outlook for American ride‑hailing
- During a July conference call, the entrepreneur predicted that Tesla would “probably have autonomous ride‑hailing in probably half the population of the US by the end of the year.”
- The target appears highly optimistic, and the timeline looks unlikely.
Regulatory and safety considerations
Musk acknowledged that the rollout is contingent on regulatory approvals.
He emphasized that Tesla is approaching the initiative “very cautiously” in light of safety apprehensions.
