Tesla recently showcased its Model Y delivering itself on a 15-mile drive across Austin, Texas. However, the journey was marred by a crucial error – the vehicle came to a stop in a red-curb marked “No Parking, Fire Lane.” Despite claiming the delivery was done without remote assistance, Tesla acknowledges that their team monitored the vehicle’s progress throughout.
A camera-equipped Cybertruck trailed the Model Y for exterior shots, while a representative from Tesla waited with the customer at the destination. The delivered vehicle was equipped with software similar to Robotaxi’s, but was downgraded back to commercially available code once it reached its owner.
Experts argue that this achievement is not as impressive as it seems, as it relies on human intervention for preparation and cannot be replicated without such assistance. In fact, having an employee prepare the vehicle for customer use would likely be more efficient than relying on driverless technology alone.
The Robotaxi self-driving system has already faced criticism online, with footage circulating of vehicles exceeding speed limits and drifting across double-yellow lines. Tesla’s promise of a “better tomorrow” appears to be a distraction from their inability to deliver exceptional vehicles today.
Source: https://www.jalopnik.com/1900859/tesla-first-driverless-delivery-ends-fire-lane