'Just kidding': See what happens when you try to tip Tesla's robotaxi

***From Business Insider's Alex Bitter***: Riders in [Tesla](https://www.businessinsider.com/tesla-model-y-cybertruck-production-pause-july-4-2025-6)'s newly launched robotaxi service might have done a double-take when prompted to leave a tip for their driverless ride. Turns out, it's just a joke. A Sunday post on X, formerly known as Twitter, shows a video of the service's app on a user's smartphone screen after a Tesla robotaxi ride. Besides an option to rate the ride and leave feedback, there's also an option to leave a tip, with a couple of preset amounts similar to what riders might be used to seeing on the apps of [Uber](https://www.businessinsider.com/uber-leading-fewer-teens-to-get-drivers-licenses-ceo-khosrowshahi-2025-5) and Lyft. When the user tries to leave a tip, though, the text "Just Kidding" and an image of a cyberpunk hedgehog pops up, according to the video. Tesla CEO [Elon Musk](https://www.businessinsider.com/tesla-ceo-elon-musk-robotaxi-vision-how-to-get-there-2025-6) shared the post on his own X account, adding: "Had to been done lol." Tesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider. Tesla launched [its robotaxi service in Austin](https://www.businessinsider.com/tesla-officially-launches-robotaxi-pilot-austin-flat-fee-elon-musk-2025-6) to select users on Sunday, marking an autonomy milestone for the company after years of delays. While its first rides in the Texas capital weren't driven by humans, Tesla employees rode along in the passenger seats for safety. Driverless taxis could upend the business for millions of human taxi and ride-hailing drivers. And [tipping](https://www.businessinsider.com/how-much-tip-uber-lyft-driver-tipping-etiquette-rideshare-inflation-2023-10), the subject of Tesla's in-app joke, tends to be one of the most contentious issues between drivers and riders. While most Americans consider [tipping to be expected behavior](https://www.businessinsider.com/tipping-culture-customers-cut-back-survey-says-2025-5#:~:text=Being%20brought%20or%20served%20food,drinks%20delivered%20to%20their%20home.) in several situations, such as at restaurants, fewer tip their drivers after taking a ride through a service like Uber or Lyft. [Read more](https://www.businessinsider.com/tesla-robotaxi-tip-easter-egg-2025-6?utm_source=reddit&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=insider-realtesla-sub-post).

Let me guess: you get a small sachet with frozen Elon cum?

r/EndTipping

Would be funny if literally anyone else did it. gimmicks unfortunately isn’t a sustainable business model.

r/KeepTipping