Tesla tested its Full Self-Driving software without safety monitors on public roads in Austin, starting around December 15 with Model Y vehicles carrying passengers or driving empty. Musk shared his passenger-seat experience on X late Christmas Eve, praising the "perfect driving," while AI head Ashok Elluswamy posted a video of a smooth ride navigating turns and traffic. This milestone advances Tesla's robotaxi plans, though the small fleet of about 30 vehicles draws questions from critics amid past supervised crashes and rivals like Waymo already offering public rides.