Overview

• Elon Musk confirmed that Tesla has been testing driverless Model Y vehicles in Austin for several days without incidents, running a month ahead of schedule
• The company plans an invite-only robotaxi launch on June 12 with an initial fleet of 10–20 Model Ys
• Tesla is hiring teleoperation specialists to oversee its autonomous cars remotely and intervene in complex traffic situations
• Austin transportation and emergency teams have flagged gaps in Tesla’s safety data and first responder protocols ahead of the debut
• The rollout positions Tesla directly against Waymo, which already offers robotaxi rides in Austin and several other U.S. cities