Tesla to Launch Public Robotaxi Rides on June 22 – Musk

Tesla CEO Elon Musk on Tuesday announced that the company’s self-driving robotaxis will be launched on June 22.

According to Musk’s statement, the initial launch will take place in Austin, Texas, where Tesla has been actively testing its self-driving vehicles.

Responding to a user on X, Musk stated, “We are being super paranoid about safety, so the date could shift,” emphasizing the company’s cautious approach.

Tesla’s ambitious robotaxi rollout comes as Musk pivots away from producing a more affordable EV and instead places the company’s future on the success of fully autonomous vehicles. However, widespread adoption has faced delays due to regulatory challenges, safety concerns, and intensive capital demands leading some critics to remain skeptical of Musk’s timeline.

In a further development, Musk announced that starting June 28, Tesla vehicles will autonomously drive from the end of the factory line directly to a customer’s house. He also teased the upcoming paid robotaxi service in Austin, which will begin with 10–20 Model Y SUVs operating in a limited area and under remote human supervision.

A successful launch is seen as critical for Tesla, especially as EV sales soften amid rising global competition and a reputational backlash in Europe, following Musk’s vocal support for far-right politics and a controversial stint advising former U.S. President Donald Trump.

Despite California’s strict autonomous vehicle regulations, Tesla plans to expand the service to other U.S. states later this year. In a playful jab at the Golden State, Musk posted, “Austin >> LA for robotaxi launch lol,” signaling his preference for launching first in Texas rather than Los Angeles.

Earlier Tuesday, Musk shared a video on X featuring a driverless Model Y making a turn at an Austin intersection, with the word “Robotaxi” visible on the car and a second Model Y following behind. He confirmed the vehicles were using a new version of Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) software.

REUTERS