Tesla Robotaxi Trip Doubles to 40 Minutes and Shares Drop 30%
Tesla's robotaxi in Austin took 40 minutes instead of 20 due to conservative route logic, costing $17.35 with no safety monitor interventions. The company delivered 358,023 vehicles in Q1 versus 366,000–370,000 estimates, sees shares down roughly 30% from December highs, and launched supervised FSD in the Netherlands.
1. Robotaxi Route Logic and Ride Experience
During a test in downtown Austin, Tesla’s robotaxi Cybercab completed a 20-minute route in nearly 40 minutes due to conservative detour logic that avoided unauthorized highways. The $17.35 trip required a safety monitor who did not intervene, highlighting progress in vehicle autonomy but underscoring current limitations in route optimization.
2. Europe FSD Launch and Impact
Tesla has rolled out its supervised Full Self-Driving service in the Netherlands, earning its first European approval for FSD Supervised. This development opens potential expansion across the EU, though the share price dipped following the launch.
3. Q1 Delivery Shortfall and Share Performance
Q1 vehicle deliveries reached 358,023 units, below the 366,000–370,000 range expected by analysts, while deliveries rose 6.3% year-over-year from a depressed baseline. Shares are down roughly 30% from December highs, pressured by federal tax credit expiration, higher financing costs, and intensifying competition from BYD and legacy automakers.