Elon Musk's Tesla faces major backlash over safety concerns in Austin

In early 2025, Tesla is set to launch its pilot robotaxi service in Austin, Texas. This move has drawn significant criticism primarily due to the company's controversial self-driving technology, Autopilot and Full Self-Driving (FSD) software, which have been linked to fatal accidents over the years. There are concerns centered around Tesla's reliance on low-cost camera systems rather than more comprehensive sensor systems for navigation, especially in complex urban environments. Dan O'Dowd, a prominent critic of Tesla's autonomous driving promises, has been vocal about the potential dangers associated with the robotaxi rollout. He argues that the technology is not ready for public use and highlights that Tesla hasn't provided enough safety data to reassure users or regulators. Complicating matters, Tesla has yet to disclose detailed operational plans for the service and where it will occur in Austin, which raises questions about the company's transparency. To mitigate risks, Tesla plans to operate the robotaxi service in a limited area while employing remote operators to assist vehicles and intervene as necessary. However, critics like O'Dowd argue this framework is inadequate and foresee failure, pointing to technical shortcomings in the FSD program that could lead to accidents. Tesla's strategy also includes allowing individual Tesla owners to contribute their vehicles to the robotaxi fleet, presenting another layer of complexity around safety and reliability. Finally, while Tesla continues to promote the promise of lower costs and high efficiency, industry experts remain skeptical. Competitors like Waymo and Zoox are closely monitoring Tesla's operations and have provided robust data around their test drives, raising further questions about Musk's claims of successful robotaxi deployment.