Tesla wants to replace loaner cars with its robotaxis
Tesla's infrastructure is technically ready to use its robotaxis as replacements for loaner vehicles. The company knows a car's location during repair, the estimated fix time, and the customer's address.
A robotaxi could pick up a customer after they drop off their car. It could then transport paying passengers until the original vehicle is ready. This approach would minimize loaner car downtime, reduce Uber expenses for customers, and provide a real-world demonstration of autonomous driving.
Currently, Tesla robotaxis operate in Austin, Dallas, Houston, Miami, Orlando, Tampa, and the San Francisco Bay Area. Some still have safety drivers, depending on local regulations. According to Not a Tesla App, Tesla plans to launch this service first in areas near Giga Texas, where most new features are tested before wider release.
However, a significant regulatory hurdle exists. The NHTSA launched an investigation into the Cybercab earlier this month, two days after its commercial debut. This federal agency oversees vehicle safety in the US and is scrutinizing whether Tesla properly certified a vehicle without a steering wheel, pedals, or mirrors, given standards designed for human-driven cars. Tesla has not applied for exemptions, though the NHTSA can grant up to 2,500 per manufacturer annually. At the time the investigation opened, 45 Cybercabs were registered, out of a planned gradual rollout of 1,000 vehicles.
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