Musk explains why Tesla Robotaxi is not running at night, and lidar is the answer
Electrek
“The main thing we're trying to solve is making sure that we don't run over pets when they're hard to see at night. Literally trying to avoid grey kittens on grey tarmac in the dark”
Elon Musk3 October 2026- What you'll lose1/5
Night rides, held up by kittens.
- Condescension0/5
Plain enough.
- Tone-deafness3/5
Grey kittens on grey tarmac, from the cameras-only company.
- Doom0/5
None.
- Hypocrisy4/5
He has called lidar a 'fool's errand'.
Full time8 pitchforksof a possible 25
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The occasion
X (post), 3 October 2026.
Context
Tesla's Austin Robotaxi service moved its closing time from 10pm to 11pm and Musk reposted the announcement with this explanation of what keeps it from running later. Tesla has relied on cameras alone and Musk has called lidar a 'fool's errand'.
Crowd reaction
Critical commentary
Electrek noted that Musk 'has spent years calling those sensors a "crutch" and a "fool's errand"' and quoted his 2019 line 'Lidar is a fool's errand. Anyone relying on lidar is doomed.' Futurism wrote that it is 'a lesson Musk is seemingly still in the process of learning', and Automotive World that 'the physics increasingly seems to favour Musk's rivals'.
- Primary source, post
- Electrek: Musk explains why Tesla Robotaxi is not running at night, and lidar is the answer
- Futurism: Elon Musk Admits Why Tesla Robotaxis Can't Be Trusted at Night
- Automotive World: Musk admits Tesla’s robotaxis still struggle to see at night
- The Next Web: Musk says Tesla’s robotaxis still cannot reliably see pets at night
- Where the exact words are printed