Tesla Robotaxis now up and running on Orlando roads

Tesla’s version of self-driving ride share vehicles have made their way to Orlando’s roads. 

Tesla Robotaxis are now active in parts of Orlando, one of just six cities chosen to host the rollout. 

The driverless vehicles use cameras and AI-based software to navigate roads. According to an X post from Tesla, the vehicles are currently operating in a 25- to 45-square mile zone around the Semoran Boulevard and Lee Vista region near Orlando International Airport. The service cannot yet drop off riders directly at MCO terminals, theme parks or the downtown Orlando area. 

Rides start at $3.25 plus about $1 per mile. 

Robotaxis launched in Orlando and Tampa at the same time, joining Miami as the only Florida cities offering the service. One day after launch, a robotaxi was seen going the wrong way down a one-way street in Tampa.

The only other state hosting the vehicles is Texas, with ride options in Houston, Dallas and Austin, where the service launched last June. 

Tesla Robotaxis have already had several operational issues since the Austin rollout, like vehicles driving over curbs, entering the wrong lane, braking abruptly or speeding. A National Highway Traffic Safety Administration probe was launched in the spring after Tesla Robotaxi technology was linked to nine collisions, including one fatal incident. A total of 17 incident reports have been recorded by the NHTSA in Austin since its launch.

The vehicles are a direct competitor to Waymo, another self-driving vehicle company that launched in Orlando in February — and that has similarly experienced some issues. Unlike the Robotaxi, Waymo vehicles operate using lidar sensors to navigate. Waymo has received criticism for risks to public safety and for its potential to undermine publicly owned and operated transit systems (despite incentives Waymo has offered for people to use both).

Tesla CEO Elon Musk expects the Robotaxis to be a widespread operation by the end of the year.

Travelers can order a robotaxi ride via the Tesla Robotaxi mobile app.

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