On June 27, 2025, a Tesla Model Y cruised straight out of Gigafactory Texas, weaved through highways and neighborhood streets, and pulled up to a customer’s driveway without anyone touching the wheel. Elon Musk, Tesla’s big-dreaming CEO, couldn’t hold back his excitement: “We just nailed the first fully autonomous delivery of a Model Y from factory to doorstep, across town, highways and all—a day early!”
This wasn’t just a drive; it was the payoff of Tesla’s years-long obsession with self-driving tech. The Model Y tackled a 30-minute journey through Austin’s mix of parking lots, bustling highways, and quiet suburban roads, hitting a top speed of 72 miles per hour—prompting Musk to dub it “Zippy!” according to Ashok Elluswamy, Tesla’s AI and Autopilot chief. It’s the kind of moment that makes you believe the future’s already here. No human sat in the driver’s seat, and no remote operator guided the car. As Musk emphasized, “There were no people in the car at all and no remote operators in control at any point. FULLY autonomous!”
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Tesla’s journey to this moment began long before the Model Y’s highway cruise. For years, the company has leaned on its Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology, a camera-based system that Musk has championed over competitors’ reliance on LiDAR or sensors. While Waymo has operated driverless vehicles on highways since 2024, Tesla’s claim of the “first fully autonomous drive with no people in the car or remotely operating the car on a public highway” underscores the Model Y’s unique feat: a factory-to-customer delivery without any human intervention.
Behind the scenes, Tesla’s FSD system has been rigorously tested. In late May, Musk revealed that Model Ys were navigating Austin’s public streets without drivers, reporting no incidents. “For the past several days, Tesla has been testing self-driving Model Y cars (no one in driver’s seat) on Austin public streets with no incidents. A month ahead of schedule,” he posted on X. This testing paved the way for the June 27 delivery, initially slated for June 28, Musk’s 54th birthday.
For customers, the prospect of a car driving itself to their home is nothing short of revolutionary. Imagine buying a Tesla and having it roll up to your driveway, no delivery driver, no car carrier, no trek to a showroom. It’s a slick move that cuts through the usual hassle of getting a new car. As notateslaapp.com put it, this setup slashes costs by skipping the need for car haulers, drivers, or even staff at your local Tesla center. For Elon Musk, it’s not just about saving a buck—it’s a step toward a world where cars don’t just drive themselves but handle their own delivery, too.
There’s a catch, though. Rules for self-driving cars are tricky. The feds at the NHTSA have loosened things up a bit, giving Tesla’s big plans a boost. But local laws can still throw up roadblocks, leaving autonomous vehicles in a bit of a legal limbo. Then there’s Tesla’s camera-only system, which has its skeptics. While Musk swears by his direct photon-counting tech to handle tough spots like sun glare, rivals like Ford insist LiDAR’s the key to keeping things safe. It’s a bold bet, and the jury’s still ou
