Image: Tesla
Tesla’s Robotaxi fleets in Austin and the Bay Area may look like familiar Model Ys at first glance, but a closer inspection reveals some meaningful hardware differences that set them apart from the Model Y sitting in most owners’ driveways.
This week, Tesla officially began offering completely unsupervised Robotaxi rides in Austin, with Model Y vehicles now operating without a driver or even a safety monitor onboard. With that shift, it’s becoming clearer that Tesla has quietly been refining these vehicles specifically for round-the-clock autonomous service.
According to longtime Tesla watcher Sawyer Merritt (@SawyerMerritt), newly built Model Y Robotaxis in Austin feature several upgrades not found on previous production Model Ys. These include a rear camera washer, dedicated side repeater camera washers, and a revised front camera housing. The changes were spotted in videos shared by David Moss, who captured the updated vehicles in action.
The addition of camera washers is a big deal for autonomy. While customer Model Ys rely on passive camera housings, Robotaxi vehicles appear to have active spray nozzles capable of cleaning the rear and side repeater cameras on demand. That’s especially important for vehicles expected to operate continuously in rain, dust, or grime without human intervention. Notably, Tesla’s upcoming Cybercab has also been spotted with a rear camera washer, hinting that this feature is becoming standard for Tesla’s autonomous future.
The updated front camera housing is more subtle, but potentially just as important. Black lines now surround the entire front camera enclosure, which could indicate improved sealing. Some speculate this may help prevent off-gassing inside the vehicle from fogging the camera glass, reducing the need for manual cleanings. Interestingly, customer reports pointed out that some new Model Ys built at Gigafactory Texas may already be receiving this updated camera enclosure, aligning with Elon Musk’s previously stated goal of simplifying front camera glass cleaning.
It’s also worth noting that Model Ys are only a temporary solution for Tesla’s Robotaxi ambitions. These vehicles are essentially placeholders, helping Tesla scale its ride-hailing service while it prepares to begin volume production of the purpose-built Cybercab in April. The Cybercab is expected to be the true backbone of Tesla’s Robotaxi network, designed from the ground up for autonomous operation.
For now, though, Tesla’s Robotaxi Model Ys offer a fascinating glimpse at how the company is quietly evolving its vehicles to meet the demands of a fully autonomous future.
