Protesters Slam Tesla Robotaxi Rollout Over Safety and Political Concerns

Elon Musk’s forthcoming robotaxi pilot program in Austin is facing significant opposition from safety advocates and political protesters. On Thursday, protesters from organizations such as The Dawn Project, Tesla Takedown, and Resist Austin assembled downtown to express their dissent regarding Tesla’s upcoming robotaxi launch on June 22, highlighting various technological and ethical issues.

Their primary source of irritation stems from Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) software. While it does not operate completely independently, FSD is promoted as an enhanced option for Tesla’s Autopilot, offering capabilities such as automatic steering, lane changes, and parking assistance. However, detractors argue that these features have significant shortcomings. Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) indicate that Tesla vehicles operating with Full Self-Driving (FSD) or Autopilot have been associated with numerous crashes and several fatalities.

The Dawn Project showcased its argument through a live demonstration featuring a Tesla Model Y outfitted with the latest FSD beta (version 13.2.9). In a recent demonstration, the vehicle allegedly failed to halt for a school bus displaying its stop sign. It proceeded to drive over a mannequin designed to resemble a child, which was positioned in its path. “This is not a theory,” stated Dawn Project CEO Dan O’Dowd. “This is a significant threat that’s being overlooked.”

O’Dowd’s company, Green Hills Software, provides technology to competitors of Tesla such as Ford and Toyota, a fact that critics highlight. However, he maintains that the demonstration was solely motivated by public interest.

There has been significant pushback regarding Elon Musk's increasing connections in the political arena, especially concerning his relationship with former President Donald Trump. “Musk thinks he operates outside the boundaries of the law,” stated protester Silvia Revelis. “We lack access to safety test results, and still, this is being implemented on public streets.”

Stephanie Gomez, a protester, expressed her concerns, stating that her participation was primarily driven by a lack of trust in Musk's intentions and Tesla's safety history. “He is influencing government policy without facing any responsibility.”

Tesla has yet to provide comprehensive safety test data regarding its robotaxi prototype and has not responded to inquiries for comment. Amid the ongoing debate, Musk shared a sneak peek of the forthcoming robotaxis earlier this week on X (formerly Twitter), showcasing the updated Model Y tailored for operation with an unsupervised version of FSD.

The planned rollout, if it stays on track, positions Austin among the initial U.S. cities to trial autonomous taxis — a future that, for particular residents, seems alarmingly hasty.

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