Austin, Texas is set to become the first city in the world to see Tesla’s highly anticipated self-driving robotaxi service hit public roads. CEO Elon Musk has confirmed that the rollout will begin Sunday with a limited number of autonomous vehicles operating in select neighborhoods.
After months of delays and speculation, Tesla’s launch remains modest. Musk told CNBC that the company will begin with around 10 robotaxis and gradually scale up, adding, “We could start with 1,000 or 10,000, but I don’t think that would be prudent.” The initial phase is expected to target Tesla employees and invited guests, with the number of vehicles increasing over the coming weeks.
While Musk has emphasized safety and called this a cautious rollout, key details remain unclear. Tesla says the vehicles will be monitored remotely, but it’s unknown whether they will include in-vehicle safety drivers, a common requirement when other companies introduce autonomous fleets.
Despite public enthusiasm, Tesla’s robotaxi debut has met resistance. A group of Texas Democratic lawmakers has urged the company to delay the launch until new state regulations on autonomous vehicles take effect in September, citing concerns over safety and public trust. However, with Republicans controlling the state legislature, significant legislative hurdles appear unlikely.
Federal regulators are also watching closely. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently sent Tesla a list of questions regarding safety protocols, crash reporting, and environmental readiness. The agency confirmed it has received Tesla’s responses and is currently reviewing them.
Tesla’s self-driving technology, known as Full Self-Driving (FSD), has drawn scrutiny over safety. According to reports from The Washington Post, FSD has been linked to at least 17 deaths and multiple injuries. Investigations by NHTSA have highlighted concerns about its performance in poor weather and complex driving scenarios.
Tesla enters an increasingly competitive market in Austin, where companies like Waymo (owned by Alphabet), Amazon, and Volkswagen are already testing autonomous taxi services. These rivals have adopted a more gradual approach, with extensive street mapping and conservative rollout timelines.
While Musk hopes to scale to 1,000 robotaxis in Austin over the next few months and expand into other Texas and California cities, questions around public readiness, safety oversight, and regulatory approval continue to loom large. Tesla declined to comment on the upcoming launch.
