Tesla finally took a major step forward with the launch of its highly anticipated robotaxi service in Austin, Texas, on Sunday, June 22nd. The debut has sparked a mix of excitement and curiosity, as early reactions begin to roll in.
However, it’s important to note that this initial rollout isn’t open to the general public. Unlike Elon Musk’s earlier promises of fully “unsupervised” autonomous vehicles, Tesla’s robotaxis currently operate with safety monitors seated in the front passenger seat. These safety monitors, employed by Tesla during commercial service, can intervene by hitting a kill switch if necessary—something most other autonomous vehicle operators only do during testing phases.
The service is currently confined to a carefully mapped, geofenced area of Austin, with some vehicles supported by chase cars and remote drivers as backup. In some cases, Tesla vehicles have been seen without chase cars nearby. At launch, access is invite-only, with Tesla selecting early users—mostly pro-Tesla influencers—raising questions about how unbiased the initial feedback will be. A broader public rollout hasn’t been announced yet.
The trial fleet consists of 10-20 Model Y vehicles branded as “Robotaxi,” with plans to introduce a fully autonomous Cybercab by 2026. Operating daily from 6 a.m. to midnight, the service avoids complex areas such as highways, airports, and tricky intersections, focusing instead on a safer, more controlled environment.
Despite the promising start, the service experienced a slow rollout. Some invitees didn’t receive the app by midday, and early reports indicated the presence of other autonomous vehicle services like Waymo, which has been operating in Austin for some time. Elon Musk later announced that rides would cost a flat fee of $4.20—an amusing, if controversial, joke referencing Musk’s well-known history with weed.
Once users gained access to the Tesla robotaxi app, they found a small operational zone bordered by the Colorado River, Highway 183, Highways 290 and 71, and Zilker Park. The rides themselves appeared smooth and uneventful, with early users livestreaming their experiences—from summoning the vehicle to arriving at their destinations. Many trips lasted hours, with some users immediately hailing another ride after completing one.
Inside the vehicle, safety monitors requested riders show their app to verify identity but otherwise remained silent during trips. The experience closely resembles riding in an Uber, with some users noting initial difficulties locating pickup points. The app interface was described as user-friendly, with features like music playlists automatically syncing from riders’ profiles.
The vehicle’s dashboard displayed a visualization similar to Tesla’s Full Self-Driving system, despite Musk’s claims that the robotaxis use a different, limited version of FSD not available to regular Tesla owners. Support buttons for “pull over,” “stop in lane,” and “support” are accessible on the center display. When pressing “support,” riders queued for remote assistance, which sometimes took a couple of minutes to connect.
Throughout the test rides, the robotaxis navigated typical urban challenges—U-turns, pedestrians, construction zones—at speeds around 40 mph or less. Feedback from users was generally positive, describing the rides as “smooth” and “normal,” though some experienced minor hiccups that required remote intervention.
Tesla’s self-driving team even hosted a “Robotaxi launch party,” showcasing live camera feeds from the fleet, signaling the company’s enthusiasm for this milestone. Moving forward, Tesla faces the challenge of expanding beyond Austin, especially into California where regulatory hurdles are more complex. Musk has expressed ambitions to deploy over a thousand driverless Tesla robotaxis within a few months, though timelines remain optimistic.
Meanwhile, competitors like Waymo are already operating large fleets—over 1,500 driverless vehicles—in cities like San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Austin, with plans to expand further. As the race to dominate autonomous ride-hailing heats up, Tesla’s Austin launch marks a significant, if cautious, step toward mainstream autonomous mobility.
