Elon Musk has said that Tesla will introduce a robotaxi service in Austin, Texas, as early as June 2025. The revelation came during a conference call following the company’s latest quarterly results, as reported by Azernews.
“We want to start small, ensure everything is working as it should, and gradually expand the service, with a focus on the safety of both passengers and all road users,” Musk stated.
Unlike previous plans that envisioned Tesla customers integrating their vehicles into the “Tesla Network” for ride-sharing, Musk clarified that these self-driving robotaxis will belong to Tesla’s own fleet. The vehicles will operate without a driver behind the wheel and will be available for paid trips.
Musk has long been criticized for repeatedly promising the arrival of fully autonomous vehicles without delivering on those timelines. However, the latest announcement significantly shortens the expected timeframe. “This is not some distant, mythical prospect,” he emphasized. “It’s literally in five to six months.”
In a letter to shareholders, Tesla highlighted that as of January, its customers had driven over three billion miles using the Full Self-Driving (FSD) “Supervised” driver assistance system. While Tesla markets FSD (Supervised) as a precursor to full autonomy, it cautions that users must remain attentive, as the system does not yet enable full automation. Additionally, Tesla has reportedly increased its computing power for AI training by over 400% in 2024.
Recently, Tesla showcased a video of dozens of Model 3 and Model Y vehicles driving “without human intervention” on a controlled 1.2-mile stretch of its factory roads. Musk noted that similar self-driving operations will soon be implemented at Tesla’s Texas plant.
The ambitious move to launch robotaxis in Austin underlines Tesla’s ongoing push to dominate the electric vehicle and autonomous driving markets. While the company has faced setbacks in achieving full autonomy, its advancements in AI and self-driving technology continue to draw both anticipation and skepticism regarding the feasibility of a fully autonomous future.
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