Electric Cars

Jeremy Clarkson recently shared his alarming experiences with Tesla's Cybercab robotaxi service in Texas, revealing significant operational flaws during his two booked rides. The first vehicle failed to initiate the journey, while the second exhibited dangerous behavior, including running red lights, braking for phantom obstacles, and failing to stop at the designated destination. This unsettling account raises critical questions about the safety and reliability of Tesla's autonomous driving technology, particularly as these vehicles lack traditional manual controls for passenger intervention. Clarkson's firsthand narrative underscores the challenges and potential hazards that still need to be addressed in the development and deployment of self-driving taxis.

Clarkson's Alarming Robotaxi Ordeal in Texas

Jeremy Clarkson's recent trial of Tesla's Cybercab service in Texas revealed a series of significant malfunctions, painting a concerning picture of the autonomous vehicle's current state. During his initial attempt to use the robotaxi, the vehicle remained immobile, with its internal system erroneously indicating that the journey had begun. This led to a recommendation from a Tesla representative to cancel and rebook. The subsequent ride, however, proved to be far more problematic, involving perilous traffic violations such as running red lights and erratic braking due to non-existent obstructions. Clarkson described being trapped in a vehicle devoid of any manual controls, leading to a ten-minute period of genuine fear. The Cybercab also struggled to navigate around an autonomous shopping cart, further illustrating its operational shortcomings. This unsettling experience led Clarkson to express strong reservations about the robotaxi's readiness for widespread use, particularly in busy urban environments.

Clarkson's detailed account in his Sunday Times column highlighted the unexpected and alarming issues he encountered with Tesla's robotaxi service. His first booking was a non-starter, with the Cybercab stationary despite the in-car assistant claiming it was in motion, necessitating a cancellation and rebooking. The second vehicle's performance was even more concerning. Initially, the journey proceeded normally, but it quickly devolved into a series of dangerous incidents, including the vehicle proceeding through red lights and executing abrupt stops for obstacles that were not present on the road. As a passenger in a car without a steering wheel or pedals, Clarkson found himself powerless to intervene, experiencing a prolonged period of anxiety. He also recounted a tense moment where the Cybercab displayed difficulty in responding appropriately to an autonomous shopping cart crossing its path. These critical failures prompted Clarkson to conclude that, despite his initial admiration for Elon Musk's vision, he would avoid the Cybercab if it were introduced in London, underscoring significant safety and operational concerns.

Operational Glitches and Regulatory Scrutiny

One of the most troubling aspects of Clarkson's Cybercab experience was its failure to terminate the journey at the intended destination. Upon reaching the drop-off point, the vehicle continued to drive, informing him it was seeking a "safe place to pull over," despite passing multiple apparently suitable locations. This autonomous decision-making process, which overrode the passenger's desired stop, highlights a critical flaw in user control and predictability. This incident adds to a growing list of concerns surrounding Tesla's robotaxi service, which has already faced scrutiny for incidents like a bollard crash in Austin and is currently under a federal safety probe due to its erratic behavior. The ongoing expansion of Tesla's unsupervised robotaxi fleet across several U.S. cities, including Austin, Dallas, and Miami, amplifies these safety apprehensions. While registration data in Texas indicates a substantial number of Tesla Robotaxi vehicles, the actual day-to-day performance and safety records remain subjects of concern, with Clarkson's recent encounter serving as a stark reminder of the technology's current limitations.

The extended journey beyond the designated drop-off point was a particularly vexing part of Clarkson's experience. The Cybercab's refusal to stop at the intended location, instead continuing its drive under the pretext of finding a "safe" spot, demonstrated a critical lack of responsiveness to passenger needs and a potential overreliance on its own decision-making algorithms, even when seemingly questionable. This behavior is not an isolated incident for Tesla's autonomous fleet. The Austin robotaxi service has already garnered negative attention following a collision with a bollard, and federal regulators have initiated a comprehensive safety investigation into the overall conduct of these vehicles. Despite these significant concerns, Tesla has continued to rapidly deploy its robotaxi service, utilizing both Model Y vehicles and Cybercabs, across numerous cities in Texas and Florida, offering unsupervised, almost continuous operation. While independent data suggests a substantial number of Tesla Robotaxi LLC vehicles are registered in Texas, indicating a large-scale deployment, the actual safety and reliability of this expanding fleet are continuously being evaluated through experiences like Clarkson's, which underscore the ongoing need for rigorous testing and improvement before widespread public trust can be established.