Tesla Robotaxi Faces Criticism from Industry Expert
Recent comments from ex-Waymo CEO John Krafcik have brought more skepticism to Tesla’s Robotaxi service. Krafcik, who now sits on the board of Tesla rival Rivian, shared his doubts about the self-driving ride-hailing service that operates in Austin, Texas, and the San Francisco Bay Area.
The Robotaxi service was launched in Austin on June 22, marking the first city where Tesla introduced driverless rides to a select group of guests. Since its initial launch, the service has expanded both its user base and geofence multiple times.
In the San Francisco Bay Area, Tesla is legally unable to refer to the platform as “Robotaxi,” so it is simply known as a ride-hailing service according to CEO Elon Musk.
Krafcik, who spent seven years at Waymo, compared Tesla’s Robotaxi fleet to Uber in San Francisco, expressing his disappointment in the service. He mentioned that the presence of Safety Monitors in the vehicles, especially in the Bay Area where they are required by regulations, detracts from the true essence of a Robotaxi.
In a recent interview with Business Insider, Krafcik stated, “If they were striving to re-create today’s Bay Area Uber experience, looks like they’ve absolutely nailed it.” He emphasized that the inclusion of Safety Monitors inside the vehicles contradicts the concept of a fully autonomous ride-hailing service.
Despite Tesla’s reasoning for having Safety Monitors onboard as a safety precaution, Krafcik remains unconvinced about the service’s readiness to operate without human intervention. He mentioned his reluctance to try the Robotaxi service, indicating that he is still waiting for Tesla to launch a truly autonomous ride-hailing experience.
Elon Musk has acknowledged the importance of prioritizing safety in the development of autonomous driving technology, referring to Tesla’s cautious approach as being “paranoid” but necessary to prevent setbacks in the industry.
While Krafcik’s criticism sheds light on the challenges facing Tesla’s Robotaxi service, it also underscores the ongoing debate around the level of autonomy required for a truly driverless experience. As Tesla continues to refine its self-driving capabilities and expand its Robotaxi service, the industry will be closely watching to see how it evolves in response to feedback from experts like Krafcik.