Tesla’s first robotaxi rides will have a ‘safety monitor’ in the passenger seat

Tesla has begun sending retired invitations for its highly anticipated robotaxi service, but there’s 1 important caveat: it’s installing a “safety monitor” successful the beforehand rider seat, arsenic previously reported by Electrek. The invites, which were sent to Tesla influencers and investors, say the quality monitor volition “accompany you connected your trip” erstwhile rides statesman connected June 22nd — a determination that’s astatine likelihood with Elon Musk’s committedness of afloat unsupervised rides.

Details astir Tesla’s robotaxi work have been slim successful the weeks starring up to its launch, but Musk said successful January that the institution would motorboat its “unsupervised” robotaxi work with “no 1 successful the car” this summer. Musk expanded connected this successful an April net call, saying the 10 to 20 Model Y vehicles would beryllium remotely operated successful the lawsuit of an emergency.

Tesla’s invitation outlines immoderate requirements for robotaxi rides, including that riders indispensable petition work betwixt 6AM and 12AM wrong a geofenced area, “excluding airports.” It adds that “service whitethorn beryllium constricted oregon unavailable successful inclement weather,” which is often a challenge for autonomous vehicles. Invitees tin bring 1 further impermanent 18 oregon older.

Over the past mates of months, Tesla has faced pressure from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which has asked the EV-maker for much accusation astir “the quality of Tesla’s strategy to respond appropriately to reduced roadway visibility conditions.” Texas lawmakers person requested that Tesla hold its robotaxi motorboat until a revision to the state’s autonomous driving instrumentality takes effect successful September. It will require robotaxi services to get authorization from the Department of Motor Vehicles earlier operating without a quality driver.