Summary
- Tesla has a ridesharing app concept dating back to 2018
- The app is already being used by Tesla employees in the Bay Area
- Tesla has added features like same profile for cars, navigation sync, cybersecurity, and mobile app progress tracking as building blocks for this service
- Tesla plans to roll out ride-hailing in Texas and California next year
- Tesla may expand the service to Florida and other states in the future
Article
Tesla has been working on a ridesharing app that would allow Tesla owners to offer rides before the full rollout of robotaxis. Recently, it was revealed that this functionality is already in service for Tesla employees in the Bay Area of California. They can request a ride from a Tesla “robotaxi” through the Tesla app, with a safety driver currently present to intervene when necessary. This service has been available to employees for about a year, indicating that Tesla has been building up to this with various features added to their vehicles and customer app over the years.
The company is now planning to roll out Tesla ride hailing in Texas and California next year, pending approval for robotaxi testing in those states. The hope is that Tesla owners will serve as test/safety drivers until Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology is advanced enough to operate autonomously. However, there may be some regulatory hurdles to overcome, especially in California where regulations may be stricter. Despite this, Elon Musk appears confident that the service will be available in Texas regardless.
As for other states like Florida, Tesla has not yet announced any plans for expansion beyond Texas and California. Musk has suggested that additional states could potentially receive the initial level of Tesla robotaxis or ridesharing services next year, but no concrete details have been provided. In the meantime, Tesla continues to develop its FSD technology and work towards achieving regulatory approval for widespread use of autonomous vehicles.
Supporting independent cleantech coverage is crucial in accelerating the cleantech revolution, and readers are encouraged to contribute financially to help sustain this type of reporting. By chipping in a few dollars a month, individuals can help ensure that important topics like Tesla’s ridesharing app development are covered and shared with the public. Additionally, readers can sign up for daily or weekly newsletters from CleanTechnica to stay informed about the latest cleantech news and developments.
Overall, Tesla’s progress in developing a ridesharing app for Tesla owners shows the company’s commitment to advancing transportation technology. With plans to expand the service to Texas and California next year, Tesla is poised to revolutionize the ridesharing industry and pave the way for wider adoption of autonomous vehicles. Despite potential challenges in regulatory approval and implementation, Elon Musk’s confidence in the project’s success suggests that Tesla is on track to introduce innovative solutions for sustainable and efficient transportation.
Read the full article here
