The Tesla Robotaxi isn’t able to drive during rain, so our intrepid editors had wondered what happens if a rainstorm strikes while you’re riding in Tesla’s fair-weather autonomous taxi.
Well, the Tesla Robotaxi cancels your fare and drops you off in the rain, that’s what happens. Seriously! Can’t make this stuff up.
Watch a Tesla Robotaxi Take a Surprise Rain Delay in Austin TX
Here’s the video:
I’ll make no comment about the full-size Disney Princess doll, because maybe if I can’t see it, it can’t see me? This video has a peculiar energy to it, that much I can safely say.
The Riders are Surprisingly OK With Being Dumped Before the Rain Starts
Tesla is still only allowing handpicked influencers to ride the Robotaxi, so here is their (paid?) testimonial after their ride is interrupted by the threatening clouds.
Rider guy in the Space X t-shirt:
“Very smooth.”
Rider lady in the very rad Mechagodzilla t-shirt:
“Remarkable how boring it was… and that’s how you want it to be!”
I admire their composure. Personally, I would be hopping mad if I were in a taxi and the driver pulled over halfway through my ride like, “The clouds look pretty iffy, so I’m going to drop you in the gutter now. Hope you have an umbrella.”
These Tesla influencers have the patience of saints… and the conflict-avoidant cheer of paid PR professionals. A coincidence, I’m sure!
They ultimately made it to their destination – it was even the same Robotaxi that circled back to pick them up! Just wild that such a typical weather condition as the possibility of rain caused so much disruption.
What Does Waymo Do If It Rains?
If you’re like me, you’re probably curious how Waymo would behave in the same situation.
Waymos, of course, have no particular trouble driving in the rain. That’s a benefit of weatherized sensors like LiDAR, which can see through just about everything (excluding truly torrential downpours).
Pulled over Waymo due to rain
byu/mingoslingo92 inwaymo
If the rain gets biblical, no problem. The Waymo automatically pulls over, just like a human should. They don’t force you to get out and stand in the deluge (obviously), that’s totally insane that Tesla doesn’t just let you ride out the storm inside the vehicle.
So, if you’re planning on riding in the Tesla Robotaxi, bring a poncho and some good walking shoes, you might need them!
Serious aside: Women don’t drive Teslas, in part, because they fear being stranded or trapped at sketchy charging stations late at night. The Robotaxi seems completely incompatible with that concern, because if you are rained on during your ride, it will dump you wherever. Hardly the car-killer that we were lead to expect over the 9ish years of hype around the product.
As a Bonus: Here’s a Chicago Bike Cab Carrying Fares in the *Snow*
Apropos of not much, here’s the decidedly-not-autonomous bicycle taxis in Chicago. Just a couple Blackhawks fans enjoying another balmy day on Lake Shore Drive.
Yes, that’s snow. Yes, it’s starting to accumulate. Yes, I hope they tipped their cabby double.
Point is, not even the fair weather taxis stop for a little rain out here.
