Tesla gives the middle finger to its robotaxi rivals

The latest expansion of Tesla’s robotaxi operation – which kicked off in the US in July – has been used to show the middle finger to the automaker’s rivals. 

The now roughly 85-square-mile (137km) geofenced area where the company’s electric robotaxis – which are modified Model Y SUVs – can operate was adjusted earlier this month to resemble a middle finger to rivals. 

If you think that’s rude, it’s less confronting than the previous shape, which resembled a giant penis and testicles. 

The phallic map was posted by Tesla’s own robotaxi social media account in July with the words “Harder, better, faster, stronger’.

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Rival robotaxi competitor, Waymo, which is owned by Google’s Alphabet, replied with a larger map showing its 90 square miles (145km) of less restricted use of its robotaxis. 

Tesla fans have suggested online the new map, which was part of the program’s third expansion since July, is a deliberate middle finger to rivals – although the automaker has not been made any comment. 

The robotaxi operation is a primary focus for Tesla, according to CEO Elon Musk, who posted on social media this week the currently limited service will open to the public in September 2025. 

The focus on the robotaxi business comes following a decline in Tesla vehicle sales in 2024, and its largest quarterly revenue drop in more than 10 years this year.

It will also lose a significant revenue stream in September after US President Donald Trump’s administration ended penalties for automakers breaching emissions limits. 

Tesla – with its vehicles having zero tailpipe emissions – made billions from selling credits to automakers to lower their average and reduce financial penalties. 

Mr Musk has said he hopes to expand the robotaxi service to San Francisco, California next. He has also said that, combined with Tesla’s work on AI, the robotaxi business will make Tesla “the most valuable company in the world by far.”

Last year, Tesla revealed its Cybercab, a fully autonomous taxi that’s expected to enter production in 2026.

Before then, Tesla will introduce a more affordable, entry-level EV which Mr Musk described simply as a ‘just a Model Y’, having scuppered plans for a standalone new cut-price EV. 

In Australia, Telsa is currently offering discounts of up to $11,000 after it posted a 65 per cent sales slide in the July, with fewer than 1000 customer deliveries.

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