Tesla's Bold Bet on Autonomy: FSD Milestones, Robotaxi Plans, and Global Tech Influence

Tesla is once again making waves in the global tech and automotive industries—this time through a mix of bold autonomy advancements, strategic promotions, and recognition from international competitors. From the rollout of Full Self-Driving (FSD) in China to the anticipated Robotaxi launch under the mysterious “Project Alicorn,” Tesla continues pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in autonomous mobility. Meanwhile, Cybertruck buyers are enjoying unexpected perks, and SpaceX, another Elon Musk venture, is further expanding Starlink’s role as a global communications backbone. This mix of innovation, ambition, and strategic planning is painting a picture of Tesla not just as an automaker—but as a platform reshaping transportation and connectivity worldwide.

Tesla’s Latest Developments: A 30-Line Summary

Li Auto CEO Li Xiang praised

Xiang emphasized the importance of mastering “fundamentals” in AI—something he says Tesla excels at.
Tesla has been aggressively rolling out its FSD technology in China, a critical global market.
One notable achievement: a Tesla vehicle reportedly reached Mount Everest base camp using FSD.
Tesla’s new “City Autopilot” offers semi-autonomous driving in urban Chinese settings.
The company aims to bring similar capabilities to Europe later this year.
Meanwhile, Tesla prepares to launch its highly anticipated Robotaxi service in June 2025.
The internal codename for the Robotaxi platform and app is “Project Alicorn.”
“Alicorn” represents a hybrid creature (unicorn + pegasus), symbolizing versatility and fantasy—a possible nod to Tesla’s dual purpose vehicles.
Robotaxis will initially operate with human supervision but leverage Tesla’s FSD for driving.
Tesla intends to integrate the Robotaxi platform into its main app rather than launching a standalone one.
Launch city: Austin, TX, with 10–20 vehicles at first, according to Elon Musk.
Tesla’s long-term vision includes vehicles earning passive income for owners.
The idea dates back to Musk’s 2019 promise of \$10k–\$30k annually via autonomous ride-hailing.
Tesla Cybertruck owners are being offered a generous promotion: 1-year of free FSD (Supervised).
The promotion is exclusive to non-Foundation Series buyers and is worth approximately \$1,200.
Autosteer will be disabled on Cybertrucks outside of FSD—pushing users toward Tesla’s newer tech.
Owners must opt in before June 6, 2025, to activate the trial.
This initiative helps Tesla gather real-world data from Cybertruck users to refine FSD.
Meanwhile, SpaceX launched 28 new Starlink satellites, part of its ever-expanding network.
Starlink now exceeds 7,200 satellites in low Earth orbit, offering critical internet backup.
A power outage in Spain and Portugal triggered a 35% usage spike in Starlink services.
Global satellite broadband competition is heating up, with Amazon’s Project Kuiper emerging.
Germany and Ukraine are exploring independent constellations for secure communications.
SpaceX’s advantage lies in its operational maturity and first-mover dominance.
Tesla is also working to defend its direct-to-consumer sales model from regulatory pushback.
The company continues ramping up deliveries and unveiling AI-backed factory systems.
Tesla’s Optimus humanoid robots are now on pilot production lines in Fremont.
Waymo may sell robotaxis directly to consumers, hinting at broader autonomous adoption trends.
Tesla has teased internal teams with early previews of its ride-hailing interface.
All signs point to a future where Tesla’s vehicles aren’t just cars—they’re autonomous business tools.

What Undercode Say:

Tesla’s recent maneuvers aren’t just exciting—they’re deeply strategic. Recognition from Li Auto’s CEO in China signals that even Tesla’s rivals respect its technological lead in autonomy. China is arguably the most critical market for EV dominance. Gaining traction there with a working FSD suite, especially in complex urban and mountainous environments, is a monumental feat. The Everest base camp story isn’t just PR—it’s a testament to sensor resilience, terrain adaptability, and Tesla’s global training data advantage.

Project Alicorn shows how Tesla blends branding with infrastructure rollout. The choice of codename isn’t accidental—it signals a magical, dual-purpose utility: part ride-sharing, part autonomous income engine. Tesla’s push to integrate this system within its main app hints at ecosystem dominance—Apple-style vertical integration for mobility.

The Cybertruck free FSD offer reveals Tesla’s long-game data strategy. FSD isn’t a finished product—it’s a neural network in constant learning mode. The best way to improve it? Real-world data. Cybertruck’s limited production volume provides a controlled dataset, ideal for iterative improvements. Tesla’s clever twist: incentivize users with a free trial while they unknowingly become beta testers.

Starlink’s expansion is more than just internet access. It represents global redundancy. In a world of geopolitical instability and aging telecom infrastructure, satellite broadband is no longer optional—it’s survival tech. The Iberian blackout incident proves Starlink’s capability in crisis situations.

Connecting the dots, Tesla and SpaceX aren’t running separate races. They’re two sides of the same strategic coin. Autonomy, data, AI, and global reach—they’re building a decentralized transportation and communication empire. With Robotaxi operations on the verge of launch, Tesla isn’t just competing with Uber or Waymo. It’s redefining ownership and mobility.

Tesla’s integration of FSD across hardware platforms—from sedans to Cybertrucks—suggests the end goal isn’t selling more cars. It’s enabling an autonomous fleet that runs itself, learns from itself, and pays for itself.

From a tech journalist’s lens, this story isn’t just about vehicle software updates. It’s about Tesla asserting dominance in the autonomy arms race and redefining the data economy surrounding transportation. If even competitors admire Tesla’s fundamentals, that’s a major signal: the industry may not be able to catch up.

Fact Checker Results

Li Auto CEO comments were accurately reported, including the quote from Electric-Vehicles.
Cybertruck FSD trial details align with owner screenshots and Tesla’s documented communication.
Robotaxi Project Alicorn references match app decompilation findings posted by Tesla App Updates.

Prediction

Tesla’s Robotaxi platform, launching under the Alicorn codename, will redefine urban mobility and autonomous income. Expect expansion beyond Austin into major U.S. cities by Q4 2025. Europe’s inclusion depends on regulatory flexibility, but China’s performance will serve as Tesla’s strongest proof-of-concept. Meanwhile, Cybertruck’s FSD trial will serve dual purposes—training the AI and boosting user adoption rates. Tesla’s long-term market value will be increasingly measured by its software and autonomy stack—not just car sales.