Camilla Jessen
Tesla has released video of a Model Y driving from its Austin factory to its new owner’s home.
A Tesla Model Y has reportedly delivered itself from the company’s factory to a new owner in South Austin. All without a driver.
Tesla released a video showing the 15-kilometer journey from Gigafactory Texas, but some experts are questioning how autonomous the drive really was.
No Hands on the Wheel
The video shows the car navigating highways and city streets with no one inside.
Tesla says it used the same software being tested for its upcoming Robotaxi service, before switching to its standard “Full Self-Driving (Supervised)” mode.
According to Tesla CEO Elon Musk, the car completed the trip without any remote help and stayed under 70 miles per hour on Interstate 35. It then made its way through the city and parked at the buyer’s apartment.
Musk Celebrates, Critics Ask Questions
Musk posted “Kapow” on social media, praising the drive as a major breakthrough.
Fans agreed, calling it a big step forward for autonomous driving.
But not everyone is convinced.
Some critics remember the “Paint It Black” demo from years ago, which was later revealed to be staged. They question whether this latest video was another carefully planned PR move.
What If Something Goes Wrong?
Tesla hasn’t explained what would happen if the car broke down during delivery.
There’s no word on whether it had remote backup control, or how far the cars can actually be sent driverless.
More concerns involve what happens if the vehicle crashes, or how police and emergency crews would respond to a driverless car.
Tesla’s vehicles rely on cameras, not LIDAR or radar, and it’s unclear how well the system works in bad weather or at night.
Tesla is already testing 10–20 driverless Model Ys in South Austin as part of its Robotaxi project. Reports from the test area include sudden braking and other errors.
