Tesla’s Robotaxi Progress and Autonomous Driving Vision

Tesla announced on Wednesday that its robotaxi fleet has racked up over 380,000 unsupervised miles across two states and six cities, without any safety issues that the company described as “remarkable.” This news was shared by Ashok Elswamy, the Vice President of AI Software at Tesla, during the electric car maker’s second-quarter earnings call. He reassured investors by stating there have been “zero notable accidents.”

Elswamy clarified that reported incidents were related to “other parties influencing us when we were stationary.” It’s interesting because, well, I think safety is always a priority in such innovations. He emphasized, “I want to stress how safe the system is so far. No notable accidents in over 380,000 miles.” This certainly paints a positive picture.

Tesla seems to be sticking to its camera-based approach rather than relying on lidar or radar for self-driving capabilities. Elswamy remarked, “Historically, so-called experts have always said that you need lidar, radar, HD maps, and the whole kitchen sink to drive safely. Here, we show that that’s not true. All you need is a camera to drive safely, comfortably, and affordably autonomously.” That’s a pretty bold claim.

Interestingly, the distance driven by these unsupervised vehicles has been rising at a double-digit rate weekly recently. “In the last few months, we’ve seen substantial week-on-week growth,” he said. “We believe this trend will continue strongly for the rest of the year.” Who wouldn’t find that reassuring?

Tesla has recently expanded its robotaxi service to Orlando and Tampa, following its initial launch in Austin in June 2025. They had started with monitoring systems in the cars and have gradually moved towards offering fully driverless rides in Austin, with further expansion to cities like Dallas, Houston, and Miami.

When looking at the future of autonomous vehicles, there’s also the matter of regulations and safety standards. Companies like Tesla and Waymo are expected to testify before a key Senate committee regarding the oversight of these growing industries. Unlike Waymo, which employs lidar sensors, Tesla relies primarily on its cameras and sophisticated AI software.

As the robotaxi initiative progresses, it seems that Tesla is continually adapting and aiming for quicker launches in new cities, possibly hinting at an end to traditional boundaries in urban transportation. For now, Tesla’s journey in the autonomous realm is certainly one to watch.