You can now make money from your Tesla while you sleep: Elon Musk's new robotaxi plan explained
IT Trending Desk | Jul 27, 2025, 16:04 IST
Highlight of the story: Elon Musk's latest update lets Tesla owners rent out their self-driving cars on the Tesla robotaxi network. After Austin, Robotaxi is launching in California soon. In India, the Tesla Model Y is now available and open for booking.
Elon Musk, the man who is often hailed as the man inventing the future, has recently announced a new feature that will let Tesla owners rent out their cars as self-driving taxis and hence can earn money. So, your Tesla will pay for itself while, just like an Airbnb. While you sleep peacefully, your car will give rides to the Tesla robotaxi network.
The service will likely start in 2026. The company will allow Tesla owners to add their vehicles to this program. Once this is done, customer-owned cars will help the service grow quickly to cover more areas. Currently, robotaxi service is running in a small scale only in Austin.
So when you're not driving, you can give your car a robotaxi ride with the help of Tesla's smart software. With this, owners thus get a chance to make extra income without driving themselves. The rides are managed and controlled by Tesla's automated systems.
Recently, it has been announced that Tesla will soon launch robotaxis in California as well. The robotaxis were recently tested in Austin in June and they opened to mixed reviews. While some praised the full self-driving (FSD) technology, others reported sudden braking, incorrect lane changes and other safety concerns. In California, the cars have human drivers in the front seat. Not because of the backlash, but because Tesla still needs special permits from state regulators to launch fully self-driving taxis. The current service is limited to certain users, mostly employees and their families. Tesla has made it clear that even if the car drives itself most of the time, a person is still required to watch the road and be ready to take over. Outside California, Tesla’s robotaxis are operating in full self-driving (FSD) mode. The company says it is working to get all the necessary permits and approvals as quickly as possible.
Meanwhile, Elon Musk's company has launched Tesla Y in India on July 15. The Model Y is available in India starting at around Rs 70 lakh (ex-showroom). The car has already piqued the excitement of people. It offers a long-range battery that can roughly cover 480 kilometers on a single charge. Signature features like autopilot driver-assist technology, a minimalist interior design, and a large touchscreen control panel has further amped up the exciteemnt. The car also benefits from regular over-the-air software updates, which not only keeps improving its performance but also keeps adding new features time to time. Tesla is working on expanding its Supercharger network in major cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, and Gurugram to support the growing number of Model Y owners.
FAQs
Q. Are robotaxis fully self-driving?
A. In some places, yes. In California, a human must be in the car for now because the company is waiting for full approval from state regulators.
Q. When will robotaxis launch in India?
A. Tesla has not given a date. Fans and future owners will have to wait for official news from the company.
Q. Is my Tesla eligible for the robotaxi service?
A. Most newer Tesla models with self-driving capabilities will qualify, but final details will be shared by Tesla closer to launch.
Tesla owners can rent a robotaxi
The service will likely start in 2026. The company will allow Tesla owners to add their vehicles to this program. Once this is done, customer-owned cars will help the service grow quickly to cover more areas. Currently, robotaxi service is running in a small scale only in Austin.
So when you're not driving, you can give your car a robotaxi ride with the help of Tesla's smart software. With this, owners thus get a chance to make extra income without driving themselves. The rides are managed and controlled by Tesla's automated systems.
Robotaxis are coming to California
Recently, it has been announced that Tesla will soon launch robotaxis in California as well. The robotaxis were recently tested in Austin in June and they opened to mixed reviews. While some praised the full self-driving (FSD) technology, others reported sudden braking, incorrect lane changes and other safety concerns. In California, the cars have human drivers in the front seat. Not because of the backlash, but because Tesla still needs special permits from state regulators to launch fully self-driving taxis. The current service is limited to certain users, mostly employees and their families. Tesla has made it clear that even if the car drives itself most of the time, a person is still required to watch the road and be ready to take over. Outside California, Tesla’s robotaxis are operating in full self-driving (FSD) mode. The company says it is working to get all the necessary permits and approvals as quickly as possible.
Tesla Y in India
Meanwhile, Elon Musk's company has launched Tesla Y in India on July 15. The Model Y is available in India starting at around Rs 70 lakh (ex-showroom). The car has already piqued the excitement of people. It offers a long-range battery that can roughly cover 480 kilometers on a single charge. Signature features like autopilot driver-assist technology, a minimalist interior design, and a large touchscreen control panel has further amped up the exciteemnt. The car also benefits from regular over-the-air software updates, which not only keeps improving its performance but also keeps adding new features time to time. Tesla is working on expanding its Supercharger network in major cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, and Gurugram to support the growing number of Model Y owners.
FAQs
Q. Are robotaxis fully self-driving?
A. In some places, yes. In California, a human must be in the car for now because the company is waiting for full approval from state regulators.
Q. When will robotaxis launch in India?
A. Tesla has not given a date. Fans and future owners will have to wait for official news from the company.
Q. Is my Tesla eligible for the robotaxi service?
A. Most newer Tesla models with self-driving capabilities will qualify, but final details will be shared by Tesla closer to launch.