Tesla CEO Elon Musk launched his Austin robotaxi service nearly a month ago with high expectations. However, recent incidents have raised concerns about the technology’s reliability and safety. According to FSD Community Tracker host Elias Martinez, the issues prove that Tesla’s software is nowhere near robust enough to support its ambitious plans.
Martinez, one of the earliest Full Self-Driving beta testers, argues that Tesla’s software has “come a long way” over the past four years, but it still has significant shortcomings. He cites examples of FSD running red lights or driving on the wrong side of the road as evidence that the technology is not yet reliable.
The problem with each additional car added to the service is an increased statistical chance of a collision. Martinez believes that Tesla should never have launched the service with just 10 vehicles, citing the number of issues they’re still seeing. Even the latest FSD version, which has been rolled out in Austin, results in critical disengagements roughly every 340 miles.
Tesla’s lack of transparency on its robotaxi safety record is also a concern for Martinez and others. The company only releases quarterly crash statistics, which he believes should be vetted independently by regulators before being taken as credible. Martinez argues that full transparency is needed to gain public trust in the technology.
As Tesla prepares for its second-quarter earnings call, investors will be watching closely for updates on the robotaxi pilot’s performance and scaling plans. With the company’s future staked on the success of this technology, it’s clear that Musk has a lot at stake.
Despite the risks, some argue that autonomous driving could prove game-changing, especially for marginalized communities like the handicapped. However, until Tesla can demonstrate a similar level of reliability to commercial aviation, which is considered safer than mass transportation, investors and regulators will be skeptical about the company’s plans.
Source: https://fortune.com/2025/07/20/elon-musk-tesla-robotaxi-service-austin-scaling-earnings-car-sales