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It’s a big moment for Tesla. After more than a decade of hype, Tesla’s robotaxi launch is just around the corner.
On Tuesday, Elon Musk said on X that Tesla plans to begin offering rides to the public “tentatively, June 22.”
“We are being super paranoid about safety, so the date could shift,” Musk wrote. “First Tesla that drives itself from factory end of line all the way to a customer house is June 28.”
When it comes to robotaxis, Musk is — in his own words — “the boy who cried FSD.” He’s known for overpromising and underdelivering, including on full self-driving.
But this time around, Musk insists things are different: “There’s a damn wolf this time, and you can drive it. In fact, it could drive you. It’s a self-driving wolf.”
The rollout will take place in Austin, a city that has become a battleground for the robotaxi wars. Since March, Alphabet’s Waymo has offered autonomous rides with a fleet that Uber’s CEO says is “now busier than over 99% of all drivers in Austin in terms of completed trips per day.”
BI’s Lloyd Lee and Alistair Barr previously tested Tesla’s and Waymo’s self-driving technology. The winner was clear after the Tesla made an egregious error.
When questioned about BI’s test, Musk said Tesla’s robotaxis will be geofenced within certain parts of Austin and avoid intersections deemed unsafe.
So, what will the rollout look like?
It’ll start small. Musk previously said that Tesla will launch with around 10 robotaxis in week one. “It will probably be at 1,000 within a few months.”
A Morgan Stanley analyst said that rides will take place on public roads but will be “invite-only.” He also wrote that teleoperators will be able to remotely control part of the vehicle.
Yesterday, a video circulated online of a Tesla emblazoned with the word “Robotaxi.” Musk said in response to the video, “Beautifully simple design.”
While the June 22 date is not set in stone, there is pressure on Musk to execute a timely robotaxi rollout. Missing this deadline could make a historically bad year even worse. With fewer friends in the White House, this is a critical time for Musk.
The Insider Today team: Dan DeFrancesco, deputy editor and anchor, in New York. Lisa Ryan, executive editor, in New York. Hallam Bullock, senior editor, in London. Grace Lett, editor, in Chicago. Akin Oyedele, deputy editor, in New York. Amanda Yen, associate editor, in New York. Ella Hopkins, associate editor, in London. Elizabeth Casolo, fellow, in Chicago.
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