Tesla dared to deliver a Model Y in 100% autonomous mode!

Tesla has just achieved a world first: delivering a 100% autonomous vehicle, without a driver on board or remote supervision.

On June 27, 2025, a Model Y produced at the Tesla Giga Texas factory traveled alone to its owner in Austin, navigating urban roads and highways for a total journey of 30 minutes. A major technological feat… but also a move with significant regulatory implications.

Announced on X by Elon Musk himself, this delivery without human assistance did not go unnoticed. Based on the facts, this is indeed the first completely autonomous “final customer” delivery, a milestone that even the most advanced projects, such as those from Waymo or Cruise, had never achieved without human oversight. The vehicle reached a speed of 116 km/h, and no security agent was hidden on board or in remote contact, as confirmed by Ashok Elluswamy, vice president of Autopilot at Tesla.

Until now, Tesla had experimented with autonomous driving at its industrial sites, notably between assembly lines and logistics areas. But never had a vehicle left the factory to reach a customer without any human supervision. What impresses technically raises serious legal questions. Two hypotheses emerge:

Either Tesla obtained special authorization to conduct this operation outside the usual safety protocols. This would mean that federal or local authorities, likely at the Texas level, have paved the way for a new phase of experimentation in real conditions, without the requirement for human presence. A decision that could set a precedent, potentially triggering a series of similar initiatives in other U.S. states or internationally.

Or Tesla acted without official agreement, and the delivery then constitutes a real challenge posed to regulators, notably the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Under current law, autonomous vehicles must be monitored by a driver or remote operator when operating on public roads. If this condition was not met, Tesla may have knowingly circumvented the regulations, as if to force the authorities’ hand and obligate them to adapt their legal framework to technology that is ahead of the texts.

In both cases, the significance of the move is considerable. This delivery not only disrupts the automotive sector; it redefines the boundaries between innovation and regulation. History will tell whether this Model Y was an ambassador of the future… or a very controlled provocateur.

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