Model Y delivers itself with no driver or remote operator, says Musk
Tesla CEO Elon Musk revealed on Saturday that a Model Y SUV drove itself from the company’s factory near Austin, Texas, to a customer’s home without any human intervention, marking what he described as Tesla’s first fully autonomous delivery.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Musk said the car completed the journey “across town” using both city streets and highways. He emphasized that there was no one inside the vehicle and no remote operator guiding it.
Tesla’s autonomous milestone ahead of schedule
The delivery occurred one day ahead of Musk’s previously announced timeline, which was June 28, his 54th birthday. Ashok Elluswamy, Tesla’s head of AI and Autopilot, added that the Model Y reached a maximum speed of 72 miles per hour during the autonomous trip.
The event underscores Tesla’s ambitions to be at the forefront of self-driving technology, as the company leans heavily into artificial intelligence and robotics to define its future beyond electric vehicles.
Tesla Robotaxi pilot launched days earlier
The autonomous delivery comes just days after Tesla began piloting its long-awaited robotaxi service on June 22. The program offers rides in self-driving Model Y SUVs to a select group of investors and influencers within a limited area of Austin.
Musk had teased both the autonomous delivery and robotaxi programs earlier this month on X. He’s projected that Tesla will eventually deploy millions of robotaxis and humanoid Optimus robots as part of the company’s next phase of growth.
Amid slowing sales and executive departures, Tesla bets on AI
The push into AI and automation comes at a pivotal time for Tesla. Sales have slowed in key markets, such as North America and Europe, and the company continues to face criticism over Musk’s close ties to U.S. President Donald Trump. Several high-level executives have also exited the company in recent weeks.
Saturday’s hands-free delivery builds on a capability Tesla showcased back in April, when it posted a video of vehicles autonomously navigating from the Texas assembly line to shipping lots. However, it remains unclear whether fully autonomous deliveries will be rolled out on a larger scale.
Tesla has not yet responded to media requests for comment.
