What just happened? Tesla's long-awaited robotaxi service finally launched yesterday (June 23) in Austin, Texas. So far, it has been limited to invited participants and not the general public, and passengers aren't alone in the vehicles; Tesla's "safety monitors" sit in the front passenger seat ready to take over if something goes wrong – despite Elon Musk promising the service would launch unsupervised.
Musk's "tentatively, June 22" response early this month to an X user's question about when Tesla Robotaxi service would begin proved accurate.
The rides started yesterday, limited to a geofenced section of Austin, avoiding the likes of highways and complex intersections. The fleet of ten to twenty modified Model Y vehicles currently operate between 6 am to 12 am in the area, and there's a warning that they may not be available in inclement weather.
EXCLUSIVE: First Tesla Robotaxi Rides Ever! https://t.co/13ldQtIn07 – Herbert Ong (@herbertong) June 22, 2025
The service is limited to invitees made up of Tesla influencers and fans; they can bring a guest who is over 18. The videos they've been posting show the safety monitors in the passenger seat, a contrast to Musk's previous promise that the taxis would launch "unsupervised, no one in the car." The CEO has admitted that Tesla is being "super paranoid about safety," in Texas, where a new law that requires state permits for self-driving vehicles comes into effect on September 1. It's unclear if or when Tesla will stop using the monitors.
Getting dropped off in the RoboTaxi!
Incredible first ride @Tesla_AI pic.twitter.com/AMxUBOxDJw – Zack (@BLKMDL3) June 22, 2025
Musk said that initial Robotaxi customers would pay a flat fee of $4.20, a weed culture reference that he's fond of using.
The taxis use Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) system and eight cameras. The company claims the technology allows self-driving to be deployed anywhere it's approved, and does not require expensive, specialized equipment or extensive mapping of service areas.
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