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The company has already been testing its Full Self-Driving (FSD) software in Austin, with Musk recently sharing a video of a driverless Model Y turning at an intersection.
Tesla aims to expand the robotaxi service to more U.S. states by the end of the year.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk has confirmed that the electric car company will begin public rides in its much-anticipated self-driving robotaxis on 22 June.
The pilot programme will launch in Austin, Texas, using 10–20 Model Y vehicles. These cars will operate in a limited zone, with remote human supervision in place, as per Hindustan Times.
But there’s a twist—Musk has hinted the date could change, showing caution about safety and regulations. “Just being paranoid,” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter), when asked if the timeline was fixed.
Shift in Focus: From Budget EVs to Autonomy
Tesla is no longer chasing a low-cost electric car. Instead, Musk is betting big on autonomous technology. A large part of Tesla’s current value is based on its potential in the self-driving space.
However, turning this vision into reality has not been easy. The robotaxi dream faces several hurdles—like safety concerns, strict legal rules, and massive investment costs. Not everyone is convinced Musk can deliver.
First Fleet: 10-20 Vehicles in Austin
The initial phase of the robotaxi launch will include about 10 to 20 Tesla Model Y SUVs. These will run in a small area of Austin and will be remotely monitored by humans for safety.
Musk says that by 28 June, Teslas will even start driving themselves from the factory straight to customers’ homes.
Expansion Plans Underway
If things go smoothly, Tesla plans to expand robotaxi services to other U.S. states, including California, which has some of the strictest rules on self-driving vehicles.
Tesla has already been testing these vehicles on public roads in Austin, using a new version of its Full Self-Driving (FSD) software.
Samreen Pall, Senior Sub-Editor at News18, is a Computer Science graduate but a writer at heart, Samreen has one motto that she swears by: ‘Everything is dull and useless if it has no drama in it.’ This motto c…Read More
Samreen Pall, Senior Sub-Editor at News18, is a Computer Science graduate but a writer at heart, Samreen has one motto that she swears by: ‘Everything is dull and useless if it has no drama in it.’ This motto c… Read More
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