Robotaxis, Self-delivery, and the Decline of Parking Lots
- Deven Kancherla
- Aug 10
- 2 min read
In a move to reshape the future of transportation, Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, introduced the Robotaxi. A Robotaxi is a fully autonomous vehicle that provides a taxi-like ride for users; only, it's 100% electric and only costs $4.20 per ride. The Robotaxi's most similar competition is Waymo, a self-driving car that is partnered with Uber in two cities. One of those cities is Austin, Texas, the same city that the Robotaxi was launched in putting Austin at the center of a growing rivalry in the race for self driving supremacy. Both Waymo and Tesla's Robotaxi rely on fully electric vehicles, which can cut tailpipe emissions, reduce traffic congestion, and make transportation more energy efficient compared to traditions gas-powered driving services.
Alongside Robotaxi, Tesla introduced a self-delivery feature in some cars. Recently, a Tesla Model Y delivered itself to its new owner showing the possibilities cars have in the future.
Musk's goal is to revolutionize mobility while reducing car ownership and increasing electric vehicle use. Although Tesla has executed the Robotaxi extremely well, Austin state lawmakers asked Tesla to delay the public use of the Robotaxi until September 1st.
Deven's Reflections:
This showcases what Tesla envisions for the future: cars don't just drive you, they drive themselves to you. It hints at a world where vehicle deliveries are fully automated which is much more realistic than world where nobody is driving. It's a small step for Tesla, but a giant leap towards reshaping how we buy, use, and think about cars. It's hard to tell where autonomous technology will go and how these projects will impact our society. With technology advancing at such a fast pace, developments like this are just one example of the change that is coming to our world. They can be incredibly helpful for people with disabilities or health issues who need to get to appointments or other important places. Sharing vehicles also reduces the total number of cars on the road further decreasing the environmental impact. Personally, I'm really excited to ride in a driverless car and experience this technology in action.