Robotaxis, why do they keep falling for Musk's snake oil?

[edhopper]

electrek.co/2026/01/22/tesla-didnt-remove-the-robotaxi-safety-monitor-it-just-moved-them-to-a-trailing-car/

Earlier today, Elon Musk announced on X that Tesla had “just started Tesla Robotaxi drives in Austin with no safety monitor in the car.” Tesla’s stock immediately jumped over 4% on the news. Headlines across the financial press celebrated the milestone.

But wait, did they even question what was really happening?

There’s just one problem: it appears to be another game of smoke and mirrors. The Robotaxi cars spotted without “safety monitor” were all being followed by a trailing black Tesla supervising the “driverless” Robotaxi.

It means Tesla didn’t “remove the safety monitor”, it just moved them to a vehicle behind them.

So Elon announces a milestone that is just smoke and mirrors, and Wall Street applauds the slight of hand.

Remember, part of his big pay package is a million robotaxis by 2030.

[tinrobot]

1. So, put the 'safety monitor' 20 feet away in another car?

Sounds more like a "reduced safety monitor."

How does that even work? Remote control can't be nearly as safe as someone behind an actual steering wheel.

[sop]

2. 'Elon Musk Says Tesla Cybercab, Optimus Robot Production Will Be 'Agonizingly Slow' To Start'

"Tesla CEO Elon Musk is already tamping expectations when it comes to Cybercab and Optimus robot production, saying both would be 'agonizingly slow' before accelerating over time. I certainly believe half of what he's saying here, but I'm sure many investors are biting on the whole thing. After all, a huge chunk of Tesla's near-$1.4 trillion valuation hinges on the expectation that this company will eventually start producing self-driving technology and humanoid robots."

"Musk made the declaration, as he does with most things, on his social media site, X (the everything app). He was responding to a post about Cybercab production beginning in less than 100 days, saying that the pace of the ramp-up depends on complexity. The CEO added that production speed is inversely proportional to the number of new parts and manufacturing steps involved. Yeah, bud. We know. From Reuters:"

" 'For Cybercab and Optimus, almost everything is new, so the early production rate will be agonizingly slow, but eventually end up being insanely fast,' Musk wrote...The EV maker has said it was on track to start volume production of Cybercab in 2026, with Optimus output 'hopefully' starting towards the end of the year."

"In December, Musk said Tesla was testing robotaxis without safety monitors in the front passenger seat."

"Last year, Tesla launched a limited robotaxi service in Austin, Texas, using its Model Y SUVs equipped with a version of its Full Self-Driving software. Early operations were geo-fenced and included a human safety monitor in the passenger seat."

"Musk has described the humanoid robot project as central to Tesla's long-term strategy, saying it could eventually dwarf its vehicle business. He has argued the robots could unlock massive new economic value by taking on a wide range of tasks that humans are unwilling to perform."

"Maybe I'm a pessimist when it comes to Tesla's ramp-ups, but this sounds a hell of a lot like Musk hedging his bets before things get too far out of hand. I suppose time will tell, but it's not like his supporters will care."

More at link:

https://www.jalopnik.com/2081370/elon-musk-tesla-cybercab-optimus-robot-agonizingly-slow/