--- title: "Elon Musk’s bold prediction for self-driving cars in 2026" type: "News" locale: "en" url: "https://longbridge.com/en/news/286913704.md" description: "Elon Musk predicts that fully autonomous vehicles will become common in the U.S. by the end of 2026, despite safety concerns and regulatory challenges. Tesla's robotaxi services are currently operating in Texas without human monitors, but face operational issues like long wait times and mismatched drop-off locations. Musk believes AI will transform transportation, with 90% of driving done by self-driving cars in the next decade. However, Tesla is under scrutiny for safety issues, including a recent recall of over 218,000 vehicles." datetime: "2026-05-19T12:35:39.000Z" locales: - [zh-CN](https://longbridge.com/zh-CN/news/286913704.md) - [en](https://longbridge.com/en/news/286913704.md) - [zh-HK](https://longbridge.com/zh-HK/news/286913704.md) --- # Elon Musk’s bold prediction for self-driving cars in 2026 Elon Musk expects fully autonomous vehicles to become commonplace across America before the year ends as Tesla pushes forward with its self-driving technology despite mounting safety questions and regulatory challenges. Speaking via video link at the Smart Mobility Summit in Tel Aviv on Monday, the billionaire entrepreneur said self-driving cars without human safety monitors are already operating in Texas and will expand nationwide throughout this year. His confidence remains unshaken even as his company faces recalls and critics point to previous delays in his autonomous driving promises. ### **Tesla’s Texas robotaxi operations** Tesla currently runs robotaxi services in Austin, Dallas and Houston as the company advances its autonomous vehicle ambitions. Musk emphasized that these vehicles operate without safety monitors, representing what he considers genuine self-driving capability rather than systems requiring human oversight. The Texas deployment serves as a testing ground for broader expansion plans, though the rollout has encountered practical challenges that highlight gaps between ambitious projections and real-world performance. ### **Operational challenges emerge** Reuters journalists who tested the robotaxi service reported significant issues including extended waiting times, limited vehicle availability and drop-off locations that failed to match intended destinations. These problems force passengers to walk additional distances to reach their final stops, creating friction that could hinder mainstream adoption. For autonomous technology to succeed commercially, companies must deliver not just safe navigation but also reliable, convenient service that matches or exceeds traditional transportation options. ### **Safety scrutiny intensifies** Tesla faces growing examination over safety concerns involving its vehicles and autonomous systems. This month, the company recalled more than 218,000 vehicles in the United States due to delayed rearview camera images that regulators warned could increase crash risks. The safety issues extend beyond Tesla. Waymo, owned by Alphabet, recently recalled around 3,800 robotaxis after identifying software that could cause vehicles to enter flooded roads on higher-speed routes. These incidents demonstrate that even industry leaders continue discovering scenarios where autonomous systems make potentially dangerous decisions. ### **Vision for transportation’s future** Despite setbacks, Musk maintains that artificial intelligence will fundamentally reshape transportation within the next decade. He projected that five years from now, and certainly within 10 years, roughly 90 percent of all distance driven will involve AI-controlled self-driving cars rather than human operators. Musk suggested that manually driving vehicles will become niche within a decade, comparable to enthusiasts who choose manual transmissions today. This transformation would represent one of the most dramatic shifts in transportation history. ### **Other technology ventures** Beyond automotive technology, Musk discussed progress at his other companies during the summit. He said SpaceX approaches developing fully reusable rocket launch systems, technology he described as a turning point that could enable humanity to become a space-faring civilization. The entrepreneur also claimed Neuralink would perform its first Blindsight brain implant later this year to help restore vision to blind patients, while humanoid robots could become widespread within a decade. ### Related Stocks - [TSL.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/TSL.US.md) - [TSLL.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/TSLL.US.md) - [TSLR.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/TSLR.US.md) - [TSLT.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/TSLT.US.md) - [TSLG.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/TSLG.US.md) - [TESL.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/TESL.US.md) - [TSLA.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/TSLA.US.md) - [GOOGL.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/GOOGL.US.md) - [GOOG.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/GOOG.US.md) ## Related News & Research - [Elon Musk expects widespread use in US of self-driving cars this year](https://longbridge.com/en/news/286737633.md) - [Aerodigm Wealth LLC Increases Stock Position in Tesla, Inc. $TSLA](https://longbridge.com/en/news/286868439.md) - [Tesla FSD v14.3.3 adds faster ASS and new FSD Stats [2026.14.6.6]](https://longbridge.com/en/news/286782990.md) - [Yanni & Associates Investment Advisors LLC Buys Shares of 1,725 Tesla, Inc. $TSLA](https://longbridge.com/en/news/286903213.md) - [GM cuts 600 IT jobs while ramping up AI hiring](https://longbridge.com/en/news/286457853.md)