Elon Musk said Tesla is working to avoid pets that are difficult to see at night, using the example of “grey kittens on grey tarmac in the dark.” An October 3, 2026 Electrek report also said Austin Robotaxi service had extended its closing time from 10 p.m. to 11 p.m. That report describes a nighttime detection concern and an hours change—not a fleetwide grounding or a confirmed kitten collision.
What Musk said about pets at night
In an October 3, 2026 report, Electrek quoted Tesla CEO Elon Musk as saying: “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.” The wording here is attributed to Electrek’s report; the quote does not by itself establish a collision or a measured detection failure.
What changed in Austin Robotaxi hours
Electrek reported that Austin Robotaxi’s closing time had moved from 10 p.m. to 11 p.m. The report also says that when the service launched in June 2025, it initially accepted ride requests from 6 a.m. to midnight. These are schedule details reported for Austin, not a statement of a permanent Tesla policy or a schedule for every Robotaxi service.
Does this mean Tesla Robotaxis are grounded at night?
No. The report does not document a fleetwide grounding order. It describes a remaining challenge—spotting small animals in low light and against low-contrast backgrounds—alongside restricted service hours. It also does not confirm that a Tesla Robotaxi struck a kitten.
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The report provides no measured nighttime pet-detection rate or independent safety assessment. It does not establish that animal detection alone explains the operating-hours limit, whether the same constraint applies to unsupervised Robotaxis and other Tesla vehicles, or how often the system might fail to detect an animal.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the report does—and does not—show about sensing
Electrek discusses camera, lidar, and radar in its explanation, but that discussion is commentary rather than a Tesla-published performance evaluation. It is not independent proof of how well Tesla vehicles detect animals at night. Without comparable testing that specifies sensor configuration, lighting, weather, animal size and contrast, supervision, and methodology, the report does not support a broader safety comparison.
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Read Electrek’s October 3, 2026 report for the quoted statement and the Austin service-hours account.
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