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Texas Lawmakers Urge Tesla to Postpone Austin Robotaxi Rollout Until New Regulations Take Effect

Lawmakers argue a delay is vital for building public trust under Texas’s new autonomous-vehicle authorization rules effective Sept. 1, 2025.

The Tesla logo is seen during the Viva Technology conference dedicated to innovation and startups at Porte de Versailles exhibition center in Paris, France, June 12, 2025. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier
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Texas Democratic state representatives from the Austin area sent a formal letter to Tesla this week calling for the company to delay its robotaxi rollout, scheduled for as soon as June 22. The letter, signed by members of Austin’s legislative delegation, urges Tesla to wait until September, when a new Texas law regulating autonomous vehicles officially goes into effect. (DAVID ZALUBOWSKI/AP FILE)

Overview

  • Seven Austin-area lawmakers sent Tesla a June 18 letter requesting postponement of the June 22 Robotaxi debut until September 1, 2025.
  • The legislation will, for the first time, require autonomous-vehicle companies to apply for state authorization and outline emergency response procedures.
  • Elon Musk plans to start with 10–20 Model Y vehicles operating in areas deemed safest in Austin.
  • The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has demanded detailed information from Tesla about its planned driverless service.
  • Tesla’s market valuation reflects high investor expectations for robotaxis and humanoid robots that have not yet been fully demonstrated.