That makes Uber a logical partner for autonomous vehicle (AV) companies. CEO Dara Khosrowshahi sees robotaxis as at $1 trillion opportunity in the U.S. alone, and he recently told analysts, "Uber can deliver the lowest operational costs for our AV partners because we are leaps and bounds ahead on every aspect of the go-to-market capabilities."

Tesla CEO Elon Musk may have the sense of humor of South Park 's Terrance and Phillip, but one has to acknowledge his consistency. After expanding the Robotaxi service area in Austin to an area that looks like a giant penis, Tesla also increased the ride fare.

A major change is quietly taking place on the roads of America. Not with drivers but without them. Self-driving taxis, also called robotaxis, are finally here. And two giants are leading the charge: Waymo and Tesla.

Tesla's new robotaxi geofence in Austin cuts across that of Waymo's and has a phallic shape.

Waymo and Tesla ramp up robotaxi efforts, signaling a major shift in urban mobility and the future of autonomous transportation.

Tesla’s (TSLA) has been steering the robotaxi narrative for the longest time, but recently a brand new player quietly slid into the frame. Behind the scenes, one luxury EV maker just threw its hat into the race and is ready to challenge the status quo.

An upside down Tesla “T”? An upraised middle finger? Something else? The shape of EV maker’s new Austin service area draws laughs and criticism.

Tesla’s much-publicized robotaxi service began this weekend — but only in one neighborhood in Austin, Texas, only for a select group of the company’s fans and only with a Tesla employee in the front passenger seat.

The three autonomous driving experts told Business Insider about how they think the launch went, and what may have prompted some issue.