Auto-pilot, no driver

You’re standing on a street corner. A sleek cab pulls up. No driver. No greetings. Just the doors opening on their own, inviting you in. You sit, buckle up and the car glides off, not a human in sight. It’s no longer just the stuff of imagination. It’s the future and it just went live in Texas.

Tesla has officially launched its first fleet of robo-taxis, bringing Elon Musk’s futuristic dream one step closer to everyday reality. And while the idea of driverless cars ferrying us around may still feel far-off for most of us, especially here in India, it’s happening. Right now. On real roads. With real people inside.

But how exactly does this work? Can Tesla owners really earn money from their parked cars? And, could something like this ever work on India’s beautifully chaotic streets?

Getting into the act

Musk wasn’t bluffing when he said Teslas would one day drive themselves. Last week, Tesla quietly launched its first real-world robo-taxi service in Austin. A handful of Tesla Model Ys are now cruising within a designated zone, not with a driver, but with a “safety monitor” in the passenger seat, just in case things go haywire.

And yes, some things have already gone a little haywire like swerving into the wrong lane or stopping awkwardly at random places. But, come on, even human cabbies do that sometimes, right? This is a small launch, but it’s a big moment. It’s not a test track. It’s not a demo. These cars are actually out there, picking up real passengers and charging them a flat $4.20 per ride.

How these cabs work

Tesla robo-taxis are powered by full self-driving software and a vision-based system of cameras, sensors and AI. The car uses eight external cameras and onboard neural networks to “see” the road, detect objects, follow traffic rules and make driving decisions, all without a human.

Instead of relying on a radar, Tesla’s AI mimics human vision and behaviour, constantly learning from real-world driving data across its global fleet. The car navigates using GPS and mapping software, processes its environment in real time and adjusts instantly to traffic, obstacles and road conditions.

When a Tesla drove itself home

Here’s where things get even more interesting. In another sign of how far autonomy has come, a brand-new Tesla recently drove itself from the warehouse to its new owner’s home. No one in the car. No one controlling it remotely. Just pure autonomy. Imagine your next car showing up at your doorstep, fresh from the factory like an obedient pet that already knows where you live.

This isn’t just a cool trick, it’s a hint at what Tesla envisions for every car it sells.

Your car could be a side hustle

Here’s where things get wild. Musk has a plan for you. Well, for Tesla owners. Your car is lying idle in the parking lot 90 per cent of the time, doing nothing but collecting dust. Musk says plug it into the Tesla network. A kind of autonomous Uber, it’ll pick people up, drop them off and bring you home some side income.

He’s floated numbers like $30,000 a year. Sounds outrageous? Maybe. But even half that would make car ownership look very different.

What about India?

Could this ever happen in India? Could your future EV, maybe even a Tesla, be out there dodging potholes, street dogs and auto-rickshaws while you sip chai at home? It’s a thrilling thought. But let’s get real, the road ahead is a bumpy one. When I floated the idea to a local cab driver, he just chuckled and said, “Maybe, in another lifetime.”

What’s standing in the way

Unpredictable traffic: No algorithm is ready for a stray animal that just decides to nap in the middle of a four-lane highway.

Inconsistent road infra: Poorly marked lanes, potholes and a lack of standardised road signage. If one street is smooth tarmac, the next is a moon crater.

Regulatory vacuum: Who’s responsible if a robo-taxi hits a cyclist? We don’t even have basic electric vehicle regulation sorted yet.

Patchy Internet: Autonomous cars rely on data. But we all know what happens when you lose signal halfway through a WhatsApp call.

Affordability: Teslas aren’t exactly priced for the average Indian, let alone the ones that may need to be paid extra for autonomy.

Culture of driving: Let’s be honest, many of us may still yell, “Bhaiya, thoda dekh ke chalao”, to a car silently being driven by a robot.

So, could it ever happen?

Yes, but with an Indian twist. We’re not looking at robo-taxis zipping through Old Delhi or Bandra anytime soon. But in newer, well-planned cities like Chandigarh, GIFT City or private tech parks in Bengaluru or Hyderabad? That’s a maybe. Controlled zones, mapped roads, predictable traffic, these could be testbeds.

The key will be regulation, infrastructure and Indianising the tech because India doesn’t just need smart cars, it requires smart solutions for smart chaos.

Now, the real question. If robo-taxis do come here, will you be ready to hop in? Or will your desi instincts tell you to trust a human who can handle strays, potholes and wild traffic?