The long-anticipated Tesla robotaxi project is set to begin a limited rollout in Austin, Texas on 22 June.
The pilot will deploy 10 vehicles equipped with the company’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) software, marking the first time Tesla will offer autonomous rides to select users in a controlled urban environment.
The move aligns with Elon Musk’s earlier confirmation in May about launching the robotaxi programme this month, ahead of broader deployments in Los Angeles and San Francisco.
The first driverless journey is expected to occur on 28 June—Musk’s birthday—with initial operations constrained to a geofenced zone within Austin.
Tesla has opted to use modified Model Y vehicles rather than the CyberCab, which was unveiled in October but has not yet been integrated into this launch phase.
Access to the service will be limited and by invitation only, with a small group of influencers and stakeholders invited to experience early rides.
Tesla targets $2 trillion valuation from autonomous push
Elon Musk has been vocal about his vision for a driverless future since at least 2019, when he projected robotaxi launches by 2020.
That prediction fell short, but Tesla now appears closer than ever to delivering a commercial autonomous service.
Analysts, including Wedbush Securities’ Dan Ives, view the robotaxi debut as pivotal to Tesla’s long-term valuation, suggesting the company could surpass a $2 trillion market cap by the end of 2026.
According to Ives, Tesla’s scale gives it a global advantage in the autonomous sector, with the potential to not only lead in self-driving transport but also license its FSD technology to other automakers.
The company has not yet confirmed if licensing deals are on the horizon, but the Austin launch may serve as a test case for evaluating the reliability and scalability of Tesla’s system.
Safety concerns rise after demonstration test fails
Despite the excitement, public safety concerns are mounting.
Earlier this month, a group known as The Dawn Project, which campaigns for safer tech implementation, conducted a demonstration involving a Tesla Model Y using FSD software.
In the test, the car reportedly failed to stop for a stationary school bus and struck a child-sized mannequin, highlighting concerns over real-world performance of autonomous features.
The Dawn Project is led by Dan O’Dowd, founder of Green Hills Software, a company that supplies safety technology to Tesla’s competitors.
While some have questioned the motivations behind the campaign, the incident has nonetheless intensified calls for stricter scrutiny.
Tesla’s FSD and FSD Supervised systems have been linked by NHTSA to numerous accidents and fatalities, but debate remains over how much fault lies with the software versus human drivers.
Investigations have found that driver inattention, combined with system limitations, contributed to these incidents
Texas lawmakers urge Tesla to delay launch to 1 September
The regulatory environment in Texas presents additional complications.
A group of Democratic lawmakers recently sent a letter to Tesla requesting that the robotaxi launch be postponed until 1 September.
That date coincides with the introduction of a new state law governing autonomous vehicles.
In the letter addressed to Tesla’s field quality director, the lawmakers cited public safety and regulatory compliance as their primary concerns.
They asked the company to provide detailed documentation demonstrating how it plans to adhere to the new legal requirements, should it proceed with the planned launch.
Tesla has not formally responded to the letter, but the company’s track record of pushing forward despite resistance suggests the launch will likely go ahead as planned.
Public protests have already taken place in Austin, and further demonstrations could coincide with the debut of the service on 22 June.
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