Tesla has introduced a tiered cleaning fee system for its robotaxi service in Austin, Texas, where users may incur additional charges for leaving a mess in the vehicle. A report by Tesla influencer Sawyer Merritt reveals that fees can range from $50 for a "moderate mess," such as food spills, to $150 for a "severe mess," which includes biowaste and smoking.
The company aims to maintain a clean environment for passengers and encourages responsible behavior. Riders will be notified via email if a cleaning fee is applied, and an updated ride receipt will be available in the Robotaxi app. Although specifics have yet to be published on the Robotaxi Rider Rules page, Tesla warns that charges will be determined at their discretion.
In comparison, other services like Waymo have their own cleaning fee structures, charging $50 for self-reported messes and $100 for unreported incidents. Notably, frequent offenses can impact a user's account standing with Waymo.