Tesla has confirmed in a letter to Senator Ed Markey that its robotaxis are sometimes driven remotely by human operators. The company describes this as a "redundancy measure in rare cases" where remote assistance operators take control after all other intervention options have been exhausted. These operators can assume control at 2mph or less and drive up to 10mph if software permits.

This approach contrasts with competitors like Waymo, whose operators only provide guidance without direct vehicle control. Most self-driving companies avoid remote operation entirely due to technical limitations like latency and sensor perspective challenges. Tesla's strategy differs fundamentally, as the company exclusively uses cameras for its Full Self-Driving system, unlike competitors employing radar and other sensors to navigate complex environments.

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