Reports indicate that Tesla is implementing fees for messes made in its Robotaxis, which are currently operational in select areas of Austin. For severe incidents like biowaste or smoking, riders could face a charge of $150, while lesser messes such as food spills may incur a $50 fee. These charges are not detailed on Tesla's official Robotaxi Rider Rules page, instead noted as “additional fees” at the company's discretion.
Users will be informed of any additional cleaning costs through the app after their trip. If a rider disagrees with the fees, they can challenge them by contacting customer support. In comparison, Waymo, which has a larger fleet of autonomous vehicles, charges similar fees but requires riders to self-report messes to avoid higher penalties.
Waymo’s initial fine for unreported messes can reach $100, with escalating consequences for repeated offenses. In contrast, Uber does not currently clarify its fine structure for messes in its Robotaxi service, which is still in the early stages with human oversight.