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3mo ago

Tesla to Launch Robotaxi Service in Austin on June 22

Tesla’s pilot depends on safety approvals under a streamlined NHTSA exemption process for driverless vehicles

© Photo by Mustafa Yalcin/Anadolu via Getty Images
Tesla's Cybercab robotaxi is displayed during the AutoMobility LA 2024 auto show at the Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, November 21, 2024.
Visitors look at a Tesla Cybercab, also known as the Robotaxi, on display during the 2025 Silicon Valley Auto Show at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara, Calif., Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. The two-passenger self-driving car is fully autonomous with no steering wheel or pedals. Attendees explored the latest vehicles from 17 manufacturers, the chance for test drives, and a demo of a TOboR Home Dog. The show runs from Friday, Feb. 21, through Sunday, Feb. 23. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)

Overview

  • Elon Musk has set June 22 as the tentative start date for a Tesla robotaxi pilot in Austin, pending final safety evaluations.
  • The initial fleet will deploy 10 to 20 geofenced Model Y vehicles supervised remotely by safety operators.
  • NHTSA has announced plans to streamline its exemption process for vehicles without steering wheels or pedals to speed ADS commercial use.
  • Safety advocates and other protesters plan demonstrations in downtown Austin to challenge Tesla’s Full Self-Driving record and Musk’s political activities.
  • Tesla faces pressure from Waymo, which currently provides about 250,000 paid self-driving rides per week, and from Chinese EV makers eroding its market share.