TLDRs:
- Tesla is testing fully driverless Model Y robotaxis in Austin, expanding its autonomous trials.
- Social media videos show empty Tesla robotaxis operating, confirmed by CEO Elon Musk.
- Fleet crash rate raises questions about safety despite human supervisors monitoring tests.
- Texas AV regulations could reshape insurance for autonomous vehicle operations nationwide.
Tesla has entered a new phase in its autonomous vehicle program, testing fully driverless Model Y robotaxis in Austin, Texas. Previously, the company ran limited trials with employees onboard to monitor vehicle performance, but recent tests have removed human supervision entirely. Videos circulating on social media over the past weekend show empty Tesla vehicles navigating streets autonomously, with CEO Elon Musk confirming the initiative.
While Tesla has yet to announce when paying customers might ride in these driverless cars, the move signals the company’s confidence in its software and sensors. The testing in Austin represents one of the first public demonstrations of a major automaker operating Level 4-5 autonomous vehicles without a safety driver present.
Crash Data Sparks Safety Concerns
Although Tesla has made headlines with its innovative tests, the company’s robotaxi fleet has been involved in at least seven crashes since June 2025. This data comes even while safety supervisors were monitoring the vehicles from inside, raising concerns about whether the system is ready to operate entirely on its own.
By comparison, the average U.S. driver experiences a crash roughly once every 500,000 miles, while Tesla’s fleet crashes about once every 40,000 miles, highlighting a significant disparity.
Tesla has not fully disclosed the circumstances of these incidents, often redacting details in filings with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). In contrast, competitors like Waymo, Alphabet’s autonomous driving division, have made publicly available safety data covering over 100 million miles of testing. Experts suggest that greater transparency will be crucial if driverless services are to gain public trust.
Regulatory Landscape Shapes AV Insurance
Texas law requires autonomous vehicles operating at Levels 4 and 5 to maintain liability insurance, even in commercial service. This legal requirement opens opportunities for insurers to craft policies specifically designed for autonomous operations, addressing risks such as software glitches, cybersecurity threats affecting vehicle control, and liability when the manufacturer, rather than a human driver, is at fault.
Risk analytics companies can also leverage data from mandatory event recorders installed in Texas AVs, alongside NHTSA collision data, to build more accurate actuarial models. These tools will allow insurers to evaluate the risk profiles of autonomous fleets more effectively and may accelerate adoption if Tesla expands its robotaxi service to multiple cities by 2026.
Implications for Autonomous Mobility
Tesla’s fully driverless trials could redefine urban transportation, but challenges remain. Safety incidents, limited transparency, and public perception could all influence how quickly the technology becomes mainstream. Meanwhile, regulatory frameworks like Texas’s AV laws provide a foundation for addressing liability and insurance concerns, offering a glimpse into the future of autonomous mobility.
As the company continues to test its fleet, observers will be closely watching both performance data and regulatory compliance. The success or failure of Tesla’s Austin trials may set the benchmark for how other automakers approach fully autonomous ridesharing services in the coming years.
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