For years, Elon Musk has painted a vision of city streets buzzing with fully autonomous Teslas, ferrying passengers while owners sleep or work from afar. On June 22nd, that vision inched closer to reality as Tesla officially launched its long-promised robotaxi service in Austin, Texas. But if you were expecting a sci-fi leap into driverless utopia, the reality is a bit more complicated—and, for now, distinctly human.

Tesla’s debut robotaxi program, operating a modest fleet of 10 to 20 Model Y vehicles, is a blend of automation and hands-on oversight, with a flat $4.20 fare that’s as much a nod to Musk’s signature humor as it is a marketing headline. The service is invite-only and limited to a carefully geofenced slice of Austin, running from 6 AM to midnight and avoiding busy highways, airports, and tricky intersections.

A Hybrid Model: Automation Meets Human Touch

Unlike competitors such as Waymo and Cruise, which have rolled out fully driverless rides in select cities, Tesla’s robotaxis are not going it alone. Each vehicle includes a “safety monitor”—a Tesla employee riding shotgun, ready to intervene at a moment’s notice via a manual kill switch. Behind the scenes, a team of teleoperators in a command center monitors live feeds from the robotaxi fleet, poised to provide remote support when needed.

Ashok Elluswamy, head of Tesla’s Autopilot division, shared a glimpse of the operation on social media: dozens of staffers watching real-time video streams, ready to step in if the software encounters a scenario it can’t handle. It’s a far cry from the hands-off autonomy once promised, but it’s a crucial layer of safety as the technology matures.

First Rides: Excitement, Confusion, and a Dash of Frustration

The launch was met with both anticipation and hiccups. Many invitees reported delays in accessing the robotaxi app, with some waiting hours before they could hail a ride. Influencers like Sawyer Merritt, a prominent Tesla fan, voiced their frustration online, noting he watched “30 Waymo vehicles pass by before finally seeing one Tesla robotaxi.”

When the service finally went live, the experience was a mix of the familiar and the novel. Riders summoned cars through an app that closely mirrors existing ride-hailing platforms. Once inside, a rear touchscreen prompted seatbelt use and allowed passengers to start the trip, while the front display showed a simplified visualization of the car’s surroundings.

Some users found the process smooth, describing the ride as “like Uber, but with a robot in the driver’s seat.” Others quipped that locating their assigned vehicle felt like “robotaxi hunting”—a nod to the popular Pokémon Go game—due to confusion over pickup points and unclear app notifications.

Human Oversight: Safety Monitors and Teleoperators

Perhaps the most striking difference between Tesla’s approach and its rivals is the visible presence of human staff. Passengers were required to show their app to the safety monitor before starting their ride—a step that underscores just how far Tesla still needs to go before achieving true driverless operation.

Remote support is another key feature. Riders could press a “support” button in the vehicle, connecting them to a live operator. However, at least one user reported a two-minute wait and spotty cell service during the call, highlighting the challenges of merging high-tech automation with seamless customer support.

Personalization and Integration

Tesla has built in some unique perks for its loyal customer base. The robotaxi system integrates with existing Tesla profiles, automatically loading music apps and saved playlists for a personalized experience. It’s a small touch, but one that hints at how future mobility services could blur the line between private and shared transportation.

Performance and Limitations

On the road, the robotaxis handled routine challenges—pedestrians, U-turns, construction zones—with competence, generally keeping speeds under 40 mph. The ride was, by most accounts, uneventful—a testament to Tesla’s engineering, if not its flair for viral moments.

Still, the technology is far from finished. Testers like Chuck Cook noted missing features in the vehicle’s visualization display, such as manual override options or more detailed steering feedback, which could affect rider confidence. And with human monitors still required in every vehicle, Tesla’s path to full autonomy remains a work in progress.

Competition and Regulation: The Road Ahead

Tesla’s Austin launch puts it in direct competition with Waymo, which already operates over 1,500 fully driverless vehicles in cities like Phoenix, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. Waymo’s plans to expand to Atlanta, Miami, and Washington, DC, could soon leave Tesla’s small Austin fleet in the rearview mirror—unless Musk’s team can rapidly scale up.

But scaling won’t be easy. Texas is known for its relatively light regulatory touch, but states like California have a far more complex web of permits and safety requirements. Waymo and Cruise have spent years navigating these obstacles; Tesla, which has a history of regulatory clashes, will face intense scrutiny if it tries to expand beyond Austin.

Public Trust and the $4.20 Question

Tesla’s decision to launch with a $4.20 flat fare—an inside joke for Musk’s followers—has drawn mixed reactions. Some see it as playful branding; others, as tone-deaf given the serious safety questions surrounding self-driving technology.

Public trust remains a hurdle. Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) beta has faced criticism over its branding and real-world incidents. The use of in-car safety monitors, chase vehicles, and a tightly controlled service area signals that even Tesla isn’t ready to take its hands off the wheel just yet.

A First Step, Not the Finish Line

Despite the cautious rollout, the moment is historic for Tesla and its fans. For the first time, the company has opened a commercial self-driving service to the public—albeit in a highly supervised, invite-only format. Whether this pilot becomes a mass-market juggernaut or remains a niche experiment will depend on how quickly Tesla can solve the remaining technological, regulatory, and logistical puzzles.

As for now, the future of transportation in Austin comes with a $4.20 fare, a silent safety monitor up front, and a healthy dose of both ambition and caution.