Tesla launched its autonomous robotaxi service in Austin, Texas. The service is currently available to a limited group of testers. CEO Elon Musk announced on the social media platform X that customers were charged a flat fee of $4.20 for using the service.
This launch puts Tesla in direct competition with Alphabet-backed Waymo, which already operates robotaxis in several cities. Tesla has opened the service to its long-time fans, promoters, and shareholders, many of whom actively post Tesla-related content online. Super congratulations to the @Tesla_AI software & chip design teams on a successful @Robotaxi launch!! Culmination of a decade of hard work.
Both the AI chip and software teams were built from scratch within Tesla,” Musk wrote on social media. Early access program attendees reported no issues after multiple rides.
Robotaxi service begins in Austin
However, some road users and researchers observed instances where the robotaxis appeared to violate traffic rules, including one case where a Model Y robotaxi briefly traveled the wrong way down a road. Musk has long promoted the vision of a Tesla robotaxi fleet, increasing pressure to deliver amid growing competition. Tesla’s Austin launch is part of a broader plan to roll out the service in major cities, with Los Angeles and San Francisco next on the list.
Despite the excitement, Tesla has received pushback from public safety advocates and local groups in Texas, urging the company to delay the debut until more rigorous safety testing is completed. The systems being tested on Texas streets, known as FSD Unsupervised, have not been released to the general public. Tesla’s vehicles come with partially automated driving systems such as Autopilot and FSD Supervised, which include features like automatic lane-keeping and navigation.
However, these systems have been linked to accidents, including fatalities, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Musk indicated that the company aims to have “hundreds of thousands, if not over a million” self-driving cars on U.S. roads by the end of next year, marking a significant step in Tesla’s autonomous driving ambitions.
Deanna Ritchie is a managing editor at DevX. She has a degree in English Literature. She has written 2000+ articles on getting out of debt and mastering your finances. She has edited over 60,000 articles in her life. She has a passion for helping writers inspire others through their words. Deanna has also been an editor at Entrepreneur Magazine and ReadWrite.
