Would You Trust a Driverless Uber? The Real Roadblock to Robotaxi Adoption

Imagine this: your Uber pulls up. Looks normal. Clean. Quiet. But there’s one small thing missing—the driver. Would you still hop in?

That’s exactly the scenario Bradford’s been testing out while using Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD). And let’s just say… reactions have been mixed.

The Gut Check Moment

When Bradford offers people a ride in his FSD-equipped Tesla, they’re usually curious. Impressed, even. But the second he poses the question—“What if there wasn’t a driver?”—the vibe shifts. Fast.

“Nope.”

That’s the most common answer. Not “Hmm, maybe,” not “Tell me more.” Just... “Nope.”Even after witnessing the car driving itself safely.

Why? It’s not about logic—it’s something deeper. A primal discomfort with the idea that a computer is in charge of their safety. Doesn’t matter that the ride was smoother than most human drivers. People still get that visceral “this isn’t right” feeling.

Same Tech, Different Framing

Now here’s where it gets interesting. When Bradford framed the question differently—say, to a female rider as “What if you didn’t have to get in a car with a man?”—the answer flipped.

“Oh yeah. I’d definitely do that.”

Same car. Same software. Totally different reaction. It wasn’t about the tech—it was about trust, safety, and framing. Turns out, people might be more ready than they think… they just need the right reason.

The Price Tag That Changes Everything

Here’s another lever: cost. Matt jumps in to highlight a critical point—once the price drops, the resistance might too.

Uber tested a $1-per-mile price point. The result? Demand shot up 20x. Twenty. Times.

Now imagine Tesla entering that space with a robotaxi that can do it all for less than that—say 60 cents a mile—and still turn a profit. Game over.

Bradford and Matt make the case that Tesla’s vertical integration and hardware efficiency (think battery cost, sensor suite, energy usage) could give it a long-term advantage no one else can touch. Not Waymo. Not Cruise. Nobody.

If you're paying attention to the economics of autonomy, this is the inflection point. High-capacity utilization, ultra-low costs, and no need to pay a driver? That’s a trifecta most of the market still hasn’t wrapped its head around.

Adoption Won’t Be Instant—but It Will Be Inevitable

Yes, there’ll be growing pains. No, we’re not going to see a million robotaxis on day one. People need time to shift how they think about transportation. But as trust builds, prices fall, and convenience skyrockets, the resistance will fade.

And like most big tech revolutions, it’ll happen slowly… then all at once.

So… would you trust a driverless Uber?

That answer might say less about the tech—and more about you.

At Rebellionaire, we don’t just follow trends. We spot inflection points early, break them down with a first-principles lens, and help investors position accordingly. If you’re thinking long-term about Tesla, autonomy, and the real economics behind the hype—we should talk.

Contact us to learn how we help investors stay ahead of the curve.