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yesterday

Tesla Sets June 12 Debut for Invite-Only Robotaxi Pilot in Austin

Austin regulators are scrutinizing Tesla’s safety planning for its camera-based robotaxis supervised remotely.

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Elon Musk and his son X Æ arrive for a meeting with Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation members at the U.S.
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A 3D-printed miniature model of Elon Musk and the Tesla logo are seen in this illustration taken January 23, 2025. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo

Overview

  • Tesla will launch an invite-only fleet of about 10 Model Ys as robotaxis in Austin on June 12.
  • The debut pits Tesla against Waymo, which already operates lidar-equipped robotaxis in the city and logs hundreds of thousands of rides weekly.
  • The pilot relies on cameras and AI under Tesla’s Full Self-Driving suite without lidar or radar sensors.
  • Tesla is hiring remote teleoperation staff to monitor and intervene in robotaxi operations from California.
  • City officials warn Tesla has not delivered critical first-responder protocols ahead of the launch.