Tesla Robotaxi service is live in Austin with teleoperators, physical staff and $4.20 flat fee

Tesla has officially launched its Robotaxi service in Austin today, with customers paying a $4.20 flat fee.

Tesla's new Robotaxi service in Austin will work in a geofenced area of Austin during its launch, with "safety monitors" inside of the vehicles making sure nothing goes wrong. The teleoperators are from a small internal fleet, which is different to what Tesla CEO Elon Musk promised when he said there would be "no driver". Sure, the teleoperators aren't driving, but there's still a human in the car of the Robotaxi.

Right now, Tesla is sending out invites to known pro-Tesla influencers, who get to experience the Robotaxi service in its limited Austin run. These invitations are extremely rare, with a bunch of limitations and requirements that include:

• You must agree to Terms of Service, Rider Rules, Privacy Notice, and Service Animal Policy.
• You must have a credit/debit card on file.
• You can request a ride via the app from 6:00 AM to 12:00 AM, within the geofenced area (excluding airports).
• Operational hours and geofence details are available in the app and may change.
• Service may be limited or unavailable in inclement weather.
• Only the invited user may download and use the Robotaxi app.
• Participants must be courteous and respectful; unsafe or disrespectful behavior may lead to termination.
• Riders should provide a star rating and feedback in the app.
• Photos and videos of the experience are permitted.
• Smoking, vaping, consuming alcohol, and using drugs are not permitted inside the Robotaxi.
• Robotaxi may not be used in connection with any crime or to transport weapons or illegal/hazardous materials (e.g., flammable or combustible liquids).
• Surveillance, reverse engineering, or recording of proprietary Robotaxi components or features is strictly prohibited.

Tesla's new Robotaxi service is also limited to between 6 am and 12 am, and it won't work in "inclement weather".