Key Points
- Tesla’s robotaxi pilot is scheduled to launch in Austin on June 22, with the first ride set to take place on June 28.
- The initial rollout includes 10–20 Model Y vehicles using “unsupervised” Full Self-Driving software.
- Public protests are planned by safety advocacy groups concerned about Tesla’s autonomous tech.
- The launch marks Tesla’s most advanced move into autonomous mobility, ahead of the CyberCab’s 2026 debut.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced that the company’s long-awaited robotaxi service is tentatively scheduled to launch in Austin, Texas, on June 22. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Musk said he plans to fly from Los Angeles to Austin for the launch. He also noted that the first driverless ride from the Tesla factory to a customer’s home is expected on June 28, which also happens to be his birthday.
Musk emphasized safety as the top priority, cautioning that the data may still be subject to change. Earlier on Tuesday, he shared an eight-second video of a Tesla Model Y robotaxi navigating an Austin intersection with no driver or safety supervisor inside. The vehicle, painted black and tagged with a white graffiti-style “Robotaxi” logo, stopped to let pedestrians cross.
The initial pilot will be small-scale, involving 10 to 20 Tesla Model Y vehicles equipped with the latest “unsupervised” Full Self-Driving (FSD) software. Tesla’s futuristic “CyberCab,” previously teased by Musk, is not part of this first phase and is expected to debut in 2026.
Tesla will implement geofencing, meaning the robotaxis will only operate within certain areas of Austin. The fleet will also be monitored remotely by Tesla employees to ensure safety during the trial phase.
This development comes amid Musk’s growing portfolio of leadership roles, including CEO of SpaceX, head of AI startup xAI, and ownership of the social platform X. Additionally, Musk has briefly led a federal government initiative focused on reducing oversight regulations affecting his businesses.
Not everyone is celebrating. The Dawn Project, in collaboration with anti-Musk groups like Tesla Takedown and Resist Austin, plans to protest on June 12. They cite safety concerns with Tesla’s Autopilot and Full Self-Driving systems, claiming the robotaxi rollout may endanger public safety. The Dawn Project is led by Dan O’Dowd, CEO of Green Hills Software, which develops safety software used by Tesla competitors such as Ford and Toyota.
