TESLA’S flagship ride-share service offering $2 driverless journeys across a major US city has completed 30,000 rides in its first year, the company claims.
The distinctive yellow Tesla Model Y SUVs have been spotted zipping across the city of Tampa, Florida since the pilot scheme began on October 12, 2023.
Tesla is offering $2 rides around Tampa, Florida at the touch of a button[/caption]
The rides are part of a pilot scheme launched in the city last year[/caption]
Each DASH ride costs $2 per person and can be booked through the “DASH Tampa” app.
The cars carry passengers between 20 different hubs in downtown Tampa.
Services are not 24/7, however.
The service operates from Monday to Saturday from 7 am to 11 pm.
On Sunday, a restricted service runs from 12 pm to 9 pm.
Rides reportedly surged following Hurricanes Helene and Milton which recently struck Florida.
When gas was scarce, electric vehicles became extremely useful.
This week, the city gave an update on the breakthrough project.
Since its launch, the Tesla DASH service has completed 30,004 rides, carrying a total of 41,022 passengers.
The average distance traveled by passengers was 1.07 miles per ride.
Tampa said customer satisfaction ratings average 4.95 out of 5 stars.
Supporters of the scheme have said they’re pleased with its first year.
“We’ve seen an increase in rides, month over month since we launched DASH,” Shaun Drinkard, Senior Vice President of Operations for the nonprofit Tampa Downtown Partnership, told local NBC affiliate WFLA.
“The service is growing because people see how it can connect them to the places they need to go and to each other.”
The service is growing because people see how it can connect them to the places they need to go and to each other.
Shaun Drinkard
At the time the scheme was launched, Tampa’s Mayor Jane Castor said that the project would also be a major boon to the environment.
“That is something that we’ve been doing at the city,” Castor told CBS affiliate WTSP.
“You know, we’re going more and more with our fleet to electric vehicles.
“It’s just one of the many, many steps that we can take towards reducing our carbon footprint here in the city of Tampa.”
When the scheme was launched, Drinkard said the goal was to help people make “short runs” around Tampa.
“If you parked your car at an event downtown and want to get to your favorite restaurant on the other side of downtown,” he told Bay News 9.
“Maybe it’s raining or a little too hot.
“This is a great way to move people within downtown.”
