Freshman Lands Tesla Internship with Self-Built Robotaxi Tracker, Joins Core Autopilot Team

Ethan McKanna, a first-year computer science student at Texas A&M University, has secured an internship at Tesla and joined its core Robotaxi team after developing the “Robotaxi Tracker” website. The site aggregates publicly available data from autonomous vehicle fleets operated by companies such as Tesla, Waymo, and Zoox—including vehicle registration details, location maps, and accident records—and uses AI to analyze eyewitness reports from social media platforms, delivering high-frequency, real-time updates. The platform has already been cited by authoritative outlets like The New York Times. Tesla CEO Elon Musk is well known for his unconventional approach to talent acquisition, prioritizing practical skills over formal credentials or experience. This philosophy was exemplified when Ashok Elluswamy, now Vice President of Full Self-Driving (FSD), joined Tesla as a former Volkswagen intern. Today, this hiring mindset is influencing more tech companies, enabling young technical talent to rise based on merit alone.