Tesla Completes First Driverless Car Delivery to Customer
Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced a big step for the company. On June 27, Tesla made its first fully driverless delivery of a new car. The Tesla Model Y SUV drove itself from the Tesla factory in Austin, Texas, to a customer’s apartment without anyone inside the car.
What Happened in the Delivery?
Tesla shared a video on their social media account X showing the Model Y driving on public roads in Austin. The car moved on highways, through neighborhoods, and even around parking lots — all without a driver or front-seat passenger. The car stopped at the customer’s apartment, where Tesla workers and the buyer were waiting.
This was a major event because usually Tesla cars require the driver to keep their hands on the wheel and be ready to take control at any moment. This delivery was completely without any person controlling or remotely guiding the car.
Tesla’s Technology and Safety Questions
Tesla did not say exactly which software and hardware version the Model Y used for this driverless trip, or when this technology might be available for all customers. Currently, Tesla’s Full Self-Driving system still requires driver supervision.
In the past, Tesla’s self-driving claims have faced criticism and safety investigations. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is looking into Tesla’s Full Self-Driving systems for possible safety issues.
Elon Musk’s Announcement and the Reality
Elon Musk said this was the “first fully autonomous drive with no people in the car on a public highway.” However, this is not completely true. Waymo, a company owned by Alphabet, has already been running fully driverless taxis in cities like Phoenix, Los Angeles, and San Francisco since 2024.
Tesla’s head of AI, Ashok Elluswamy, said the delivery car was a regular Model Y, like all others made in the factory, and that the car traveled at a speed up to 72 miles per hour on Texas highways.
Tesla’s Robotaxi Program and Future Plans
Tesla also started a small robotaxi program in Austin recently. About 10 to 20 Model Y cars with self-driving technology are being tested. These cars have a safety driver inside and are watched remotely by Tesla employees. The program is only open to invited riders, mainly social media influencers and analysts who promote Tesla.
Since 2016, Musk has promised that Tesla cars would soon drive themselves fully with just a software update. He said Tesla owners could rent out their cars as robotaxis to earn money while they sleep. But so far, these ideas have not fully come true.
Challenges Tesla Faces
Tesla’s driverless delivery news excited many fans. However, Tesla faces problems too. CEO Elon Musk’s political comments and support for some controversial groups have caused some customers to stop buying Tesla cars, especially in Europe.
Tesla also faces strong competition from other electric vehicle makers like BYD, Nio, and Xiaomi, which offer cheaper and newer models.
Tesla is expected to share its car production and delivery numbers for the second quarter on July 2.
