In this episode of Gail’s Podcast, I take you along for a ride in a Tesla Robotaxi from a parking lot to the Westin Hotel in downtown Austin.
This unsupervised autonomous journey showcases the vehicle’s impressive capabilities, handling everything from sun glare to complex merges with ease.
The episode begins with locating the Robotaxi and confirming it’s driverless. As I settle in, the car greets me on the screen and we start the ride.
Navigating through traffic, the Robotaxi demonstrates seamless autonomy, merging confidently into fast-moving lanes and yielding appropriately to other vehicles and pedestrians.
One highlight is its performance in areas known for being tricky, where it outperforms what many human drivers might struggle with.
During the ride, I share real-time commentary on the experience, noting how the vehicle handles sun glare without issue and provides aerial-like views from elevated positions. The ETA is about 24 minutes, and the ride feels relaxing compared to traditional driving.
Upon arrival at the Westin, the drop-off is smooth, and I reflect on the perfection of the journey—no errors, low stress, and highly enjoyable.
The episode also includes a short interview with my daughter, Grace, who has taken numerous Robotaxi rides.
She describes it as having the kindest and safest chauffeur, always patient and yielding to others. She’s never felt afraid and advises skeptics to try it, pointing out that human error is far more concerning.
Later segments capture nighttime driving through the chaos of 6th Street, dealing with construction, potholes, and confusing intersections.
The Robotaxi navigates these challenges adeptly, even in low-light conditions where judging distances is tough for humans.
This ride reinforces my belief in the future of autonomous transportation. Tesla’s Robotaxi exceeds expectations and promises even more as it expands.
Watch the full episode on X:
whatsuptesla.com 