Tesla has just made history again! CEO Elon Musk revealed on June 27, 2025, that a brand-new Model Y SUV drove itself from the Gigafactory in Austin, Texas, to a customer’s apartment with no one inside to steer, brake, or even observe from a distance. This is significant because it suggests that the dream of fully self-driving cars may no longer be so distant. A video shared on an X account (also owned by Musk) showed the car driving down highways and local roads with no one in the front seats.
How Did the Self-Driving Delivery Happen?
The driverless Model Y began its journey at the enormous facility in Austin. It traveled on highways and small streets. It even navigated parking lots until it reached the customer’s apartment building. When it arrived, the buyer was waiting at the curb. Personnel were also there. Some donned shirts with large logos. Surprisingly, the car came to a halt exactly where it was supposed to, even though the curb was painted red, which denotes “no parking” in many areas!
What Software Was Used?
It does not specify what software or hardware was employed in the Model Y for this particular delivery. The most advanced technology currently sold is Full Self-Driving (Supervised). Normally, this technology requires the driver to keep both hands on the wheel.
So, how did this car perform with no driver at all? It’s still a mystery. We only know that the car reached a maximum speed of 72 mph. That is two miles per hour beyond the average Texas highway speed limit!
Although other companies, such as Waymo, have been offering driverless rides before, this delivery was unique. This is the first time a brand-new car rolled off the factory line and drove itself straight to its owner’s doorstep. As Elon Musk wrote on X, “There were no people in the car at all and no remote operators in control at any point. FULLY autonomous!”
What About Other Self-Driving Cars?
Elon Musk has talked about fully self-driving cars for a long time. Back in 2016, he shared a video called “Paint It Black” that made it look like Teslas could already drive themselves anywhere. But later, it turned out that the video was staged.
In 2019, Musk said Tesla would have 1 million robotaxis on the road by 2020. That didn’t happen. But this delivery shows Tesla is still trying hard to reach that dream. Musk wrote on X, “Congratulations to the @Tesla_AI teams, both software & AI chip design!”
It is not alone in the race. Waymo, owned by Google’s parent firm Alphabet, provides robotaxi services in places such as Phoenix, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. Waymo’s cars have been driving completely autonomously on roadways since 2024. So, Musk’s claim that Tesla did the “first fully autonomous drive” on a public highway is not 100% true. But a car was delivered to a real buyer without a driver inside.
Is It Safe?
Some folks are concerned about safety. Tesla is being investigated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). They want to ensure that Tesla’s Full Self-Driving technologies do not include any potentially harmful faults. Tesla is also conducting robotaxi rides in Austin with a few automobiles. These vehicles feature a safety person in the passenger seat and are monitored from an operations center.
The company intends to make this type of delivery standard one day. Imagine buying a new car and having it drive itself to your house instead of waiting for a truck! However, that future is still several years away. The company plans to release second-quarter delivery figures on July 2. People are waiting to see how many cars are sold and whether more self-driving deliveries will be available shortly.
