Tesla CEO Elon Musk has announced that the launch of the automaker’s Robotaxi platform later this month will set a precedent for other companies to license Full Self-Driving technology in order to achieve their own autonomy goals. This statement comes as video footage captured today in Austin, Texas, showed the first Tesla Robotaxi test mules on public streets, just a day after the City officially listed the company as an autonomous vehicle operator.
Investing YouTube personality and Tesla community member Dave Lee made a bold prediction that “at least one automaker by the end of the year” will license Full Self-Driving technology from Tesla. Lee explained that committing to FSD licensing would require the automaker to integrate the hardware and undergo approximately two years of engineering and design applications before being able to deploy the technology.
Musk expressed his skepticism towards other automakers’ attempts at achieving vehicle autonomy, stating that many are being misled into thinking that Robotaxi is not a viable solution or that simply purchasing hardware from Nvidia will solve their problems. He emphasized that as Tesla’s Robotaxi platform becomes more widespread and other solutions fail, companies will inevitably turn to Tesla for assistance.
The launch of the Robotaxi platform has generated significant buzz and speculation, with reports suggesting that Tesla may roll out the service as early as this month. While the company has not confirmed a specific launch date, Musk’s previous statements about discussions with a major automaker regarding licensing Full Self-Driving technology hint at potential collaborations in the near future.
Many industry observers, including Tesla fans, have speculated that Ford could be the automaker in talks with Tesla for FSD licensing, citing Musk’s relationship with Ford’s Jim Farley. Ford’s adoption of Tesla’s North American Charging Standard (NACS) further fueled these rumors, as it demonstrated the impact of aligning with Tesla’s innovative solutions.
Ultimately, Tesla’s push towards autonomy through the Robotaxi platform could prompt other companies to reevaluate their strategies and consider licensing Full Self-Driving technology to stay competitive in the evolving automotive landscape. As Musk remains confident in Tesla’s capabilities and vision for the future, the industry may witness a shift towards collaboration and innovation in the pursuit of autonomous driving technology.