If you’re in Austin and you’re trying to ride in a truly driverless Tesla robotaxi, you may be on a wild goose chase. Imagine the anticipation, app open, location set, ready to experience the future of transportation. Then, ride after ride, you find a supervisor gripping the wheel, shattering the illusion of autonomy.
The Tweet Heard ‘Round Austin
Last Thursday, Elon Musk ignited a firestorm of speculation with a simple tweet: “Just started Tesla Robotaxi drives in Austin with no safety monitor in the car.” This declaration was amplified by a post from Tesla enthusiast @TSLA99T, boasting about being in a robotaxi sans safety monitor, complete with a video showcasing an empty driver’s seat at a red light. The implication was clear: Tesla’s robotaxis had arrived, challenging the dominance of players like Waymo. Musk’s message acted as a siren call, drawing Tesla fans to Austin with promises of a futuristic experience.
Behind the Wheel…Or Not?
Tesla’s VP of Software, Ashok Elluswamy, added fuel to the fire, stating on January 22nd that they were “starting with a few unsupervised vehicles mixed in with the broader Robotaxi fleet with Safety Monitors.” This announcement sent ripples through the Tesla community, with fans eagerly trying to locate these elusive, truly driverless vehicles. It seems that the reality on the ground doesn’t match the hype; reports suggest that these unsupervised rides are, at best, preview experiences for Tesla influencers, potentially shadowed by a human-driven support car.
Consider the case of David Moss, a Tesla influencer known for his (somewhat substantiated) claim of a coast-to-coast Tesla trip with minimal steering input. Since the announcement, he’s been on a relentless quest to find an unsupervised robotaxi.
42 Tesla Robotaxi Rides
42 L’s
1 goal of finding an unsupervised Model YIt’s tough to get a ride on the app & every ride I take one I see legitimately 4-5 cars mapping the area that could be on the app
This was also my 5th ride in a row with the supervisor in the drivers… pic.twitter.com/fxAvY4dWrx
— David Moss (@DavidMoss) January 28, 2026
His experience? After 42 rides—more than eight per day—every single one had a supervisor in the driver’s seat. This development follows Tesla’s move in September to relocate safety monitors from the passenger seat to the driver’s seat, a puzzling decision if the goal is truly driverless operation.
Are Tesla Robotaxis Really Driverless?
The waters get even murkier when examining the experiences of other Tesla enthusiasts. Joe Tegtmeyer, a well-known Tesla observer, also rode in one of these “unsupervised” Teslas on the same day as TSLA99T. However, he revealed a key detail: the robotaxi was accompanied by a chase car. This raises serious questions about the practicality and scalability of such an operation. It’s like a stage magician whose tricks are transparently revealed; the illusion fades, replaced by a somewhat clumsy reality.
The Market Reacts
According to reports, Tesla stock saw a 4% increase following the unsupervised robotaxi announcement. Some headlines further fueled the excitement, giving the impression that fully autonomous rides were readily available to the public. The reality, however, seems to be far more limited. The “chase car” version of these robotaxis appears to be the only iteration currently on the road, and even these are proving difficult for paying customers to access. The hype surrounding Tesla’s robotaxis felt very manufactured.
Where Are Tesla Robotaxis Being Tested?
During Tesla’s recent earnings call, Elon Musk mentioned that unsupervised driving testing is happening in multiple cities, emphasizing the company’s “actually just being paranoid about safety.” This statement, while reassuring, does little to clarify the current availability of truly driverless rides to the general public. The quest of fans like Moss, chronicled in real time on social media, highlights the discrepancy between Tesla’s pronouncements and the actual user experience.
As of Wednesday night, Moss had reportedly taken 54 robotaxi rides, all in pursuit of that elusive unsupervised experience.
54 was not my magic number as I had to get one more ride in a Tesla Robotaxi before bed lol pic.twitter.com/rgEMIXRbig
— David Moss (@DavidMoss) January 29, 2026
How Much Does a Tesla Robotaxi Ride Cost?
Pricing specifics for Tesla’s robotaxi service are still somewhat undefined, given the limited availability and testing phases. When fully rolled out, the pricing model will likely depend on factors like distance, time of day, and demand. Until Tesla widely offers unsupervised robotaxi rides, any discussion of cost remains purely speculative.
Gizmodo reached out to Tesla for clarification on whether any unsupervised rides have been given to paying customers and if these rides involve a chase car. As of yet, there’s been no response. The silence is deafening.
Are Tesla’s unsupervised robotaxis a genuine step toward the future, or just a mirage designed to boost stock prices and generate buzz?