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2w ago

Tesla Plans Invite-Only Robotaxi Rollout in Austin This June

Early street trials have gone incident-free despite a recent poll finding that 71% of Americans would refuse to ride in a driverless Model Y.

Tesla Robotaxi two-passenger battery-electric self-driving car on display at the AutoSalon on January 10, 2025 in Brussels, Belgium.
© Tesla
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Overview

  • Tesla will launch an invite-only robotaxi service in Austin on June 12 with a fleet of 10–20 self-driving Model Ys.
  • Elon Musk confirmed days of incident-free, driverless Model Y tests on Austin streets supported by remote operators.
  • An Electric Vehicle Intelligence Report survey found that 71% of U.S. consumers would refuse to ride in a Tesla robotaxi and 43% believe these services should be illegal.
  • Safety experts warn that Tesla’s Full Self-Driving technology still faces unresolved challenges around wireless connectivity and remote driver oversight.
  • Wedbush Securities analysts say the rollout could undercut Uber’s business model as Uber offers Waymo-powered autonomous rides in Austin and plans to expand to Atlanta.