Tesla’s Robotaxi Service Set to Launch in Austin

​ ‍ Updated June 21,2025

Elon Musk’s long-promised self-driving cars may soon become a reality. Tesla is gearing up to launch its⁤ robotaxi service in Austin, Texas. Road tests are underway,showing vehicles operating without ‌a human driver.

However, Tesla ⁣faces competition from Waymo, wich already‌ operates a robotaxi service in austin and other cities. Safety is a key⁤ concern, ⁤as Musk has‌ opted for ⁢a camera-only system, unlike rivals who use radar and lidar. Federal regulators⁤ have previously raised ​concerns about Tesla’s driver-assistance software,⁤ linking​ it to numerous crashes.

The launch date is tentatively set⁤ for June 22,according to Musk. He has ​predicted​ autonomous Teslas for years, tho these claims have ‍frequently enough been delayed.

austin officials ⁢said they haven’t documented any⁣ safety incidents involving Tesla autonomous⁤ vehicles. The city ⁢provides all AV companies with training ​and information, according to transportation department spokesperson Jack Flagler.

Tesla has not publicly detailed⁢ contingency plans. Rival companies like waymo offer remote⁢ assistance. ​Tesla posted a job related to teleoperations, ​suggesting ⁤it may also use remote support, according to Wired magazine and‍ auto site Electrek.

“That’s my ‌big worry: that all the progress ‌we’ve made ⁤gets halted‍ by some sort of major safety incident,” Stevens said.

Musk said ⁢safety and regulations will dictate‌ the⁢ pace of ⁣expansion. He mentioned ⁢possibly expanding to California, though Tesla lacks⁣ the ⁢necessary permit. He also ​teased a new vehicle called Cybercab for the robotaxi ⁢service.Eventually,‍ individual Tesla owners may be able ⁤to⁢ offer their vehicles​ for hire, though a timeline ⁤is unclear.

The robotaxi service has boosted Tesla’s stock price after sales and‍ profits declined. Some investors believe Tesla ‌can quickly expand​ the service,‌ creating a new revenue stream and boosting vehicle sales.

MIT’s Reimer said, “I think the objective that is paramount is stabilizing Tesla’s stock ⁣price. This is as much of a ⁢media ⁢stunt as anything else.”