No driver, no crash: Tesla’s FSD Model Y clears public test in Austin

Tesla Fully Autonomous Model Y Completes Public Road Testing in Austin First Customer Deliveries Expected Next Month [Unblock Media] Tesla has commenced public road testing of its fully autonomous Model Y in Austin, Texas. The test was conducted with no one in the driver’s seat, and according to CEO Elon Musk, no accidents occurred. This test, which took place a month ahead of schedule, is seen as a critical step towards the commercialization of autonomous vehicles. "Tesla has tested its autonomous Model Y on public roads in Austin, and no accidents occurred," Musk posted on social media platform X. "The first customer delivery will take place next month." Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology leads the race due to its proprietary FSD chip, real-world dataset, and over-the-air (OTA) updates. These capabilities provide a significant advantage over competitors like Waymo and GM's Cruise, which have more conservative commercialization timelines. Unlike geofence systems, Tesla’s FSD is designed to adapt to various road conditions using millions of miles of driving data collected from users worldwide. According to a report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), over 90% of traffic accidents are caused by human error. Experts believe that autonomous systems could significantly reduce this accident rate. Furthermore, pilot programs in cities like San Francisco have demonstrated that autonomous vehicles can improve traffic flow with their predictable driving behavior. Daniel Kim, a traffic systems specialist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), stated, “If Tesla’s autonomous vehicles are widely adopted, they could reduce traffic fatalities and urban congestion.” Tesla's deployment of autonomous driving is also expected to impact logistics and delivery services significantly. With autonomous trucks and cars, 24-hour unmanned deliveries become feasible, reducing operational costs and potentially overhauling supply chains. Urban planners are already considering autonomous-compatible infrastructure, including smart intersections, autonomous vehicle-dedicated zones, and dedicated charging lanes. Although legal, regulatory, and ethical barriers remain, Tesla’s ahead-of-schedule rollout shows their ambition to dominate the future of autonomous driving. The first customer delivery from the factory, scheduled for next month, indicates that the commercialization of autonomous technology is progressing rapidly.