Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) feature, marketed as a partially automated driving system, faces growing skepticism from experts and safety advocates.

CEO Elon Musk plans to launch robotaxi services in Austin, Texas, by June 2025. However, industry experts question whether the technology is ready.

FSD relies on cameras and software to assist with navigation, braking, and traffic light recognition. Tesla warns that it’s a “hands-on feature” requiring constant driver attention, but many users reportedly ignore this.

The system’s involvement in accidents has raised public safety concerns.

Automotive safety experts, including Sam Abuelsamid of Telemetry, doubt FSD’s readiness for unsupervised use. He said there’s no evidence it’s close to being reliable, citing its inconsistency and unpredictability

Meanwhile, Tesla’s stock dropped 36% in Q1 2025, its worst quarter since 2022. Vehicle deliveries also fell 13% year-on-year, with 336,681 units delivered.

Analysts at Piper Sandler believe upcoming product unveilings, like the robotaxi initiative, could help regain investor confidence.

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