For those who may not be aware, Tesla’s much-touted Full Self-Driving software has made significant progress over the last few years, especially with the recent release of Full Self-Driving (FSD) V12. I even decided to give FSD V12 a go in my Tesla Model 3. While it’s not perfect by any means, I was very impressed by its performance in complex traffic scenarios, and it’s expected to improve exponentially in the coming months.
These recent advancements in FSD were a highlight during the latest Tesla Earnings Call. In this session, Tesla CEO Elon Musk, along with other company executives, discussed Tesla’s financial results, and future prospects, and took questions from major investors. A key topic discussed was Tesla’s plan to launch a ride-hailing app, similar to Uber and Lyft, but with a twist, it would be fully autonomous, eliminating the need for a driver. We were even shown official preview images of what the service might look like.
While the concept of a driverless ride-hailing service might seem daunting to some, it’s important to remember that companies like Waymo are already operating such services in select U.S. cities. Musk likened the future service to a blend of Airbnb and Uber. Similar to how Airbnb allows you to rent out your home, this service would let you offer your car as an autonomous taxi during times it’s not in use, such as while you’re at work, giving you complete control over when your car is available.
The idea is undoubtedly intriguing, but the timeline for its implementation remains uncertain and could potentially take years. It was also mentioned that all Tesla vehicles currently equipped with Full Self-Driving capabilities could join this network of robot taxis once the service is launched. Naturally, this raises several concerns, such as potential damage to your vehicle by riders or what happens in the event of an accident. These issues are expected to be addressed by Tesla as the launch of the service approaches. Nevertheless, these developments mark an exciting era for vehicle autonomy, particularly for Tesla owners.
