By Aditya Soni
(Reuters) –Tesla SHARES JUMPED OVER 9% ON Monday After The Electric-Vehicle Maker Started Testing Its Long-Awaited Robotaxi Service, Key Step Toward Proving the Technology That CEO ELON MUSK Has for Years Touted as a crucial driver of its Lofty Valuation.
The Automaker Deployed a Small Fleet of Self-Driving Taxis in Austin, Texas, On Sunday, Marking the First Time Its Have Carried Paying Passangers Without Human Drivers. The Rides Were Being Offered For Flat Fee of $ 4.20 in a Limited Zone.
The trial’s succcess is crucial for Tesla AS Musk has Pivoted the Company to Self-Driving Cars and Robots, Shelving Plans for Mass-Market Dominance in the EV Space As Chinese Competition Heats Up and Demand Slows for It Aging Line-Up of Models.
Tesla TOLD US REGULATORS ON MONDAY THAT ITS ANSWERS ON THE SAFETY OF THE ROBOTAXIMENT ARE CONFIDENTIAL BUSINESS INFORMATION AND SHOULD NOT BE MADE PUBLIC, After the National Highway Traffic Said Said It Was Reviewing Answers Given in Response Its Questions About The Safety of the Robotaxi In Poor Weather Among numerous issues.
“It was a comfortable, Safe, and Personalized Experience,” Said Wedbush Securities Analyst Dan Ives, Who Took Multiple Robotaxi Rides on Sunday and Has Long Been A Tesla Bull.
“There Was a Moment Wore We Drive Up A Narrow Road Going Up A Hill with Cars Parked On Both Sides With Onance Traffic and People Opening Their Car Doors Into The Road and the Robotaxi Masterfully Maneuvered with Patience and Safeity.”
Many Social-Media influencers Also Posted Videos of Their First Rides on X, Showing the Cars Navigating Busy City Streets by Slowing Down and Making Room for Incoming Traffic.
Still, The Tightly Controlled Trial – With About 10 Vehicles and Front -Seat Riders Acting As “Safety Monitors” – Is Just the First Step In What Coutld Be a Years -Long Process of Scaling Up The Service, According to Some Industry Experts.
Teslawells the Rivals Including Google-Backed Waymo, have federal investigations and recalls following collisions.
Industry Experts have questioned the effectiveness of Tesla‘S self-Driving Technology That Depends Mostly on Cameras and Ai, Without Redundant Sensors Such As Ledar And Radar, Claiming Fog, Heavy Rain and Glaaring Sunling Can Hamper Safety.
The Company Will also have to navigate A New Texas Law Taking Effect SEPTEMBER 1 THAT REQUIRE A STATE A PENSO FOR SELF-DRIVING Vehicles and Reflects Bipartisan Calls for Cautious Roll-Out.
If Monday’s Gains Hold, Tesla – The World’s Most Valuable Automaker – Will Add Nearly $ 100 Billion to its Market Value of About $ 1 Trillion. The Stock has declined about 12% so far this Year, Dragged Down by Concerns About Demand and Brand Damage from Musk’s Embrace of Right-Wing Politics in Europe and Support for Us President Donald Trump.
