Autonomous Journey: Tesla Model Y Transits from Factory to Owner Via Robotaxi Technology
Tesla Achieves Milestone with Autonomous Model Y Drive in Austin
In a groundbreaking move, Tesla initiated a robotaxi trial in Austin, Texas late last month, culminating in a fully autonomous drive on June 27, 2025. Elon Musk claimed this as a company first, "to the best of our knowledge".
The journey, recorded and later uploaded to YouTube, saw a Tesla Model Y autonomously navigating from the Austin "Gigafactory" to its new owner's residence. The car was steered by Tesla's camera-based 'robotaxi' technology, with no people in the car or remotely operating it.
The 30-minute journey involved complex traffic and turn situations, but it went without a hitch. Interestingly, the car had no passengers on board, and there were no remote operators controlling the car during the journey.
The car was equipped with Tesla's "robotaxi" software for the delivery journey, and upon reaching its new owner, it was returned to Full Self Driving (Supervised) status.
However, Austin's AV database recorded over 15 safety-related errors during the first week of the trial. It's worth noting that both Full Self Driving and Tesla's 'robotaxi' systems are camera-based.
This fully autonomous drive, to the best of our knowledge, was the first of its kind on a public highway with no people in the car or remote control. The video of this historic journey can be watched on YouTube, offering a glimpse into the future of autonomous transportation.
