Tesla aims to roll out its highly anticipated robotaxi service in Austin on June 12, a source familiar with the plan told Bloomberg. This launch marks a key step in CEO Elon Musk’s vision to transform Tesla into a company centered on autonomous vehicles and artificial intelligence. However, the June 12 date remains tentative and could shift, as Tesla continues preparations for the service debut.
Autonomous Testing on Austin Roads
In a recent milestone, Tesla operated a test vehicle on Austin’s public roads without a driver behind the wheel. According to Bloomberg, a Tesla engineer rode in the passenger seat of a Model Y SUV that drove autonomously without remote control. This demonstration follows last year’s reveal of the Cybercab, a fully autonomous vehicle without a steering wheel or pedals.
Texas, home to Tesla’s headquarters, allows relatively relaxed autonomous vehicle operations, regulating them similarly to regular passenger vehicles. Despite this, the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation has not yet licensed Tesla as a rideshare operator.
Austin Officials Voice Concerns
Despite Tesla’s ambitious timeline, a report by Fortune highlights that Austin city officials are not fully prepared for the robotaxi service launch. Tesla recently met with local and state agencies, but officials from Austin’s transportation department, emergency responders, and federal regulators say Tesla has not provided essential safety information.
Key concerns include the lack of detailed first responder protocols, which are vital in emergencies such as vehicle crashes, fires, or rescues requiring “jaws of life” tools. An Austin official told Fortune Tesla has yet to clarify the level of autonomy its robotaxis will feature at launch, leaving uncertainty over whether human supervision will be required.
Safety and Competition
Unlike Waymo’s autonomous cars, which are equipped with large rooftop sensors to aid navigation, Tesla’s robotaxi will rely solely on video cameras and AI. Consequently, this reliance raises safety concerns among officials and experts, particularly since Waymo’s vehicles are already operational in Austin.
