A group of Democratic lawmakers in Texas urged Tesla to delay the rollout of its robotaxis in Austin, as the driverless cars prepare to hit the streets this weekend.
In a letter to Tesla’s director of field quality, Eddie Gates, seven lawmakers asked the electric vehicle maker to push back its launch until September, when a new Texas law is set to take effect.
The law, which revises earlier state guidelines for autonomous vehicles, requires the operators of self-driving cars to receive prior authorization from the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).
To secure authorization, companies need to show their cars can operate in compliance with state traffic laws, are equipped with a recording device, comply with federal standards, are properly registered and insured, and can “achieve a minimal risk condition” if the autonomous driving system stops working.
“As members of the Austin delegation in the Texas Senate and Texas House of Representatives, we are formally requesting that Tesla delay autonomous robotaxi operations until the new law takes effect on September 1, 2025,” the lawmakers wrote in the letter, shared on social platform X by Texas state Sen. Sarah Eckhardt (D).
“We believe this is in the best interest of both public safety and building public trust in Tesla’s operations,” they continued.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk said earlier this month that the company was “tentatively” aiming to launch its robotaxi service June 22, although he noted that they “are being super paranoid about safety, so the date could shift.”
The robotaxi launch marks a key moment for Tesla, as it seeks to make a strong showing after months of turmoil. The electric vehicle maker became a political symbol for Musk during his fourth-month stint in the Trump administration, dragging down the company’s stock price and attracting both peaceful and destructive demonstrations.
If Tesla goes ahead with its planned launch over the weekend, the Texas lawmakers asked the company to respond to their letter with “detailed information demonstrating that Tesla will be compliant with the new law upon the launch of driverless operations in Austin.”
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