In a significant move towards autonomous transportation, Tesla has been secretly testing a robotaxi service in the Bay Area for most of the year, CEO Elon Musk revealed during the company's earnings call. The service, currently available only to Tesla employees, features safety drivers behind the wheel of autonomously operated Tesla vehicles. This development brings Tesla closer to realizing its long-promised Tesla Network, which would allow regular Tesla owners to send their vehicles out autonomously to function as robotaxis.

Musk expressed confidence in the company's Full Self-Driving software, predicting it will be "1000 times better" than human driving by the second quarter of 2025. He also announced plans to launch a paid ride-hailing service in California and Texas next year, pending regulatory approval. While Tesla is not currently licensed to operate a commercial autonomous ride-hailing service in California, Musk believes it will be easier to obtain permission in Texas.

This development marks a crucial step towards Tesla's vision of transforming the transportation industry and solidifying its position as a leader in electric and autonomous vehicles.