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<\/p>\nJune 27, 2025 <\/p>\n
By Karan Singh<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Following the successful launch of Robotaxi on Sunday, June 22nd, Tesla has begun moving to the next phase of its Robotaxi rollout. They have finally begun sending out a second, larger wave of invites, expanding the early access program to more members of the Tesla community across the United States.<\/p>\n
This has moved them past the initial 20 or so users that were offered access on Sunday. That also means Tesla is on the hunt for something crucial: more real-world data.<\/p>\n
More Riders ASAP<\/p>\n
The initial launch was a tightly controlled event, with access granted to a small and curated group of influencers. While this approach was ideal for generating initial buzz for the launch and collecting feedback from high-quality testers, it also presented logistical challenges.<\/p>\n
With only a handful of authorized riders and vehicles, the demand for rides would inevitably dry up as influencers begin their journeys back home. Without a public release, that would leave Tesla\u2019s Robotaxi fleet idle, unable to gather additional data.<\/p>\n
To rapidly improve on Robotaxi\u2019s FSD, Tesla needs its vehicles to be constantly navigating real-world scenarios, encountering edge cases, and logging miles. The second round of invites is needed to keep Robotaxis learning and on the road.<\/p>\n
Austin Users Next?<\/p>\n
This new wave of invites isn\u2019t an open door for members of the public quite yet. By continuing to send invites to trusted community members, Tesla is executing a slow and deliberate rollout by inviting members who know and love Tesla. This allows them to scale the program gradually, increasing the number of users and the diversity of ride requests without overwhelming the relatively small initial fleet of about 10 cars.<\/p>\n
Future phases will likely involve opening access to Tesla owners within Austin, which would open up a regular flow of rides. Once that\u2019s done, Robotaxi will likely open up to the public.<\/p>\n
Sign of Confidence<\/p>\n
The expansion of the early access program is a sign that Tesla is happy and confident with the rollout so far. While Tesla can gather plenty of data around Austin from Tesla owners using FSD, they also need to continue testing features that are exclusive to the Robotaxi, such as the Robotaxi app, support, and remotely control the vehicles when needed.<\/p>\n
We expect a full launch to potentially still be months out, but this methodical expansion will likely see more users gradually gain access to the Robotaxi network in the coming weeks.<\/p>\n
Subscribe to our newsletter to stay up to date on the latest Tesla news, upcoming features and software updates.<\/p>\n
June 27, 2025 <\/p>\n
By Karan Singh<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/omead_afshar.jpg\")
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Omead Afshar, who was previously Elon Musk\u2019s \u201cFixer\u201d and the Head of Operations for North America and Europe, has left the company, according to reports from Forbes <\/a>and Bloomberg<\/a>.<\/p>\n While some sources have claimed he was fired, others say he voluntarily left, but his exit isn\u2019t exactly an isolated event.<\/p>\n Afshar\u2019s departure is the second high-level exit this month, following Optimus’ lead, Milan Kovac. When viewed together, alongside Elon’s full-time return to Tesla, these changes may offer some insight into the pressures the Tesla executive team is facing during a transitional period.<\/p>\n Transition from what, you may ask? Well, from the world\u2019s largest EV company to an AI and robotics-first company. This transition has been looming for years, and with Elon\u2019s vision of a future powered by autonomous vehicles and humanoid robots. It\u2019s the path that Tesla is determined to forge, ahead of anyone else, and despite the immense challenges of real-world AI.<\/p>\n Two Competing Narratives<\/p>\n Two primary theories have emerged to explain the timing of Afshar\u2019s exit, and each paints quite a different picture.<\/p>\n The first, supported by the reporting from Forbes, frames him as a casualty of Tesla\u2019s current sales issues. With sales having declined for five consecutive months in Europe and dropping in the US, the second quarter of 2025 has been rough for Tesla. In conjunction with recent factory shutdowns<\/a>, a lot is happening behind the scenes, with Robotaxi taking the limelight and the missing Affordable Model in the backseat<\/a>. Afshar\u2019s departure could be the result of a move to show accountability for the performance drop of the core business he managed.<\/p>\n The second narrative is one of \u201cmission accomplished.\u201d Just days before his abrupt exit, Afshar posted a celebratory message on X about the successful launch of the Robotaxi Network.<\/p>\n Absolutely historic day for Tesla. <\/p>\n This has been years of hard work and focus by so many people within the company. <\/p>\n Thank you, Elon, for pushing us all! https:\/\/t.co\/2FPKU77ZOo<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Omead Afshar (@omead) June 23, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n He followed up with a second celebratory-styled message the day after – it was a project he was deeply involved in as the do-it-all executive for Elon. This has led to speculation that his departure was planned, and potentially tied to compensation vesting with the launch of the Robotaxi Network, allowing him to leave on a high note after seeing the kick-off of one of Tesla\u2019s most critical projects. This follows other recent departures of Tesla\u2019s executive team, many of whom have gone to full-time retirement following years of hard work.<\/p>\n The Bigger Picture: What Is Tesla, really?<\/p>\n While both theories are plausible, the truth may be that Afshar\u2019s departure is the symptom of a much larger challenge. Tesla is balancing two very different corporate identities.<\/p>\n On one hand, it’s a manufacturing and sales powerhouse, responsible for the world\u2019s best-selling electric vehicles, a business facing intense competition and brand perception challenges<\/a> that even Elon has acknowledged<\/a>.<\/p>\n On the other hand, Tesla is the only company shipping real-world AI for consumers, and betting its future on robotics and AI with massive investments in capacity for both future businesses.<\/p>\n The recent executive churn suggests that this balancing act is creating some strain, especially for Tesla\u2019s senior executives. The departure of Milan Kovac signaled pressure on the future side of the business, where progress has been slow but consistent. Now, the exit of Afshar, who ran the \u201clegacy\u201d automotive side of the business, shows there\u2019s pressure there, as the automotive business navigates a period of flattening growth and intense global competition.<\/p>\n So, we ask again – What is Tesla, really? Is it an AI and Robotics company? Kind of, but not really. Is it an EV company? Once again, kind of.\u00a0<\/p>\n In our eyes, it is no longer just an EV company, but it\u2019s at a critical point where it is transitioning to an AI and robotics company.<\/p>\n Tesla\u2019s messaging to the outside world is similarly conflicted. On the one hand, the launch of the refreshed Model Y, a massive boost for the business, went seemingly unnoticed by Elon, who only posted a single update on the Model Y after its launch. On the other hand, we\u2019ve seen consistent and non-stop posts about Robotaxi, which is likely years away from generating a significant portion of Tesla\u2019s profits.<\/p>\n A Company in Transition<\/p>\n Ultimately, Omead Afshar\u2019s departure is more than a single personnel change; it\u2019s a reflection of Tesla navigating a crucial and challenging transition. The evidence of an abrupt halt, with internal sources reporting his account has been removed from internal company directories, suggests that there\u2019s more to this than meets the eye.<\/p>\n Whether he was fired for declining sales or chose to leave after the successful launch of the Robotaxi Network, the outcome is the same. A key leader, tasked with managing the core business of the present, is gone at the very moment when the company is changing its path towards AI and robotics.<\/p>\n Being both a car company in a tough market and an AI company on the verge of a breakthrough is a monumental challenge, and the path forward is likely to see even more changes.<\/p>\n June 26, 2025 <\/p>\n By Karan Singh<\/p>\n We\u2019ve already seen that Tesla\u2019s Project Halo has some hardware modifications<\/a> not found on consumer cars. While some of these upgrades, like the second communications unit, have a clear purpose, another change is a bit more confounding.<\/p>\n Early-access testers in Austin spotted a simple, flat, likely metal bar under the rear trunk of the Robotaxi Model Ys. While we\u2019re still not sure what exactly this new bar is for, we do have some speculative ideas.<\/p>\n The community has also floated some fantastic theories, but Tesla clearly put it here, and on these Robotaxi vehicles, for a specific purpose. Grab your notepads, we\u2019re about to do some theorycrafting.<\/p>\n Could Be Wireless Charging<\/p>\n By and far, the most plausible and exciting theory is that this bar is related to future wireless charging capabilities and testing.<\/p>\n For a Robotaxi network to scale efficiently, the entire process, from cleaning to charging, must be autonomous. Relying on a human to plug in each vehicle, or even a complex robot arm<\/a>, introduces a logistical bottleneck and a potential point of failure.<\/p>\n The logical endpoint here is that wireless inductive charging is a game-changer. A vehicle simply parks over a designated pad<\/a> at the depot to begin charging, without any interaction.<\/p>\n The metal bar is in the exact spot where Tesla could potentially mount testing gear, or even the vehicle-side receiver for more informal testing, without needing to commit to a wholly new underbody design.<\/p>\n Tesla previously acquired Wiferion<\/a>, a German inductive charging technology company, and demoed the wireless charging solution at We, Robot<\/a>. With a series of patents<\/a> on beam steering and wireless charging circuits, Tesla has been hard at work building up their tech base to support wireless charging for Robotaxi.<\/p>\n We\u2019ve seen several other theories discussed, but they really begin to fall apart under closer scrutiny.\u00a0<\/p>\n The first is additional underbody protection. While it is potentially practical, the bar\u2019s position is far too rearward to offer any additional protection to the high-voltage battery pack or the rear drive units. Additionally, Tesla prefers to integrate this type of protection directly into the vehicle\u2019s Gigacasting. Tesla has already made significant improvements to the structural rigidity of the new Model Y\u2019s Rear Casting<\/a>, so this makes no sense.<\/p>\n Next up is a potential camera spray shield for the rearview camera. The centralized placement of the bar means it doesn\u2019t actually protect from the rear wheels pushing road spray out and upwards. It simply won\u2019t have an impact on the rear camera that we can see.\u00a0<\/p>\n Rounding up the theory crafting is a new aerodynamic part. However, the bar is flat and seems more like a mounting point than anything aero-related, such as the new rear diffusers spotted on the Model Y Performance<\/a>. The bar likely makes more drag than it reduces.<\/p>\n Small Part, Lots of Ideas<\/p>\n When considering the logistical requirements of a large-scale autonomous vehicle fleet, wireless charging is a natural choice, especially given the mounting point. This simple metal bar is likely a preparatory step for Tesla to mount engineering samples for wireless charging in the near future.<\/p>\n If you\u2019ve got any other ideas on what this could be, we\u2019d love to hear what you think on social media<\/a>.<\/p>\n \n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/robotaxi-metal-bar.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/robotaxi_additional_bar.jpg\")
What It Probably Isn\u2019t<\/p>\n