Tesla Robotaxi Unsupervised Austin: Breakthrough or Optical Illusion?

The driver's seat was empty, but eyes were watching from the rear. Elon Musk just declared the start of 'unsupervised' Robotaxi rides in Austin, but a mysterious chase car suggests the tech might not be as independent as it looks.

Tesla Robotaxi Unsupervised Austin and the Chase Car Mystery

According to posts on X, Musk announced on Thursday that Tesla has started operating Robotaxis in Austin with "no safety monitor in the car." The official Tesla account doubled down, labeling the rides as "full unsupervised." However, independent footage has raised questions about what "unsupervised" actually means in this context.

A video shared by Joe Tegtmeyer, which was retweeted by Musk himself, shows a Model Y navigating Austin streets without a driver. But there's a catch: a black Model Y follows the Robotaxi at every turn. Tegtmeyer noted that the second car is likely being used for "validation." Industry experts suggest this chase car almost certainly carries human monitors ready to intervene via remote or proximity overrides if the AI falters.

Waymo vs. Tesla: The Race for Real Autonomy

While Tesla's method appears to be a clever workaround to claim an "empty seat," its chief rival Waymo is already conducting truly autonomous rides. Waymo is currently operational in 6 major cities across the U.S., including its latest expansion into Miami. Unlike Tesla's current setup in Austin, Waymo's vehicles don't require a constant shadow vehicle, highlighting the technical gap between the two companies.