Musk is counting on eventually churning out large numbers of robotaxis and Optimus humanoid robots to underpin the EV company’s next chapter. (Tim Goessman/Bloomberg)
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Tesla Inc. CEO Elon Musk said a Tesla Model Y SUV drove itself from the company’s factory near Austin to a customer’s home in the company’s latest move to showcase its push into autonomous driving.
In a post on X, Musk announced the company had made an autonomous delivery of a Tesla Model Y from its factory to a customer’s home, noting the delivery was made “across town” and included highways. Musk said the delivery did not include anyone in the car and no remote operators controlled the vehicle.
While the post did not include video or images, Musk posted that video of the event would come soon. Tesla’s head of AI and autopilot, Ashok Elluswamy, said the vehicle reached a maximum speed of 72 mph.
Tesla’s first autonomous delivery highlights Musk’s bet that artificial intelligence and robotics represent the future of his electric car company. It comes days after Tesla began its long-awaited robotaxi service on June 22, offering a select group of influencers and investors rides in a small fleet of self-driving Model Y SUVs in a limited area of Austin.
The first fully autonomous delivery of a Tesla Model Y from factory to a customer home across town, including highways, was just completed a day ahead of schedule!!
Congratulations to the @Tesla_AI teams, both software & AI chip design!
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 27, 2025
Musk previewed both events in a post earlier this month on X and has said the company plans to eventually have millions of robotaxis on the road in the future.
Musk is counting on eventually churning out large numbers of robotaxis and Optimus humanoid robots to underpin the EV company’s next chapter. Sales in key markets including North America and Europe remain sluggish, and the company has faced a consumer backlash to Musk’s role in U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration. Multiple executives also have left the company in recent weeks.
RELATED: NHTSA Eyes Tesla Robotaxis After Errors in Test
The hands-free delivery is an extension of a capability Tesla touted in April, when it posted a video showing cars moving autonomously from its Texas assembly lines to logistics lots before shipping. It’s unclear whether autonomous deliveries will become a meaningful part of Tesla’s operations.
Tesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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