Tesla robotaxis spotted across Austin ahead of launch
Tesla robotaxis has become increasingly visible on Austin roads ahead of the company’s targeted launch date of June 22nd.
Benzinga
Tesla’s “fully autonomous” robotaxis made their debut in Austin, Texas this weekend. On Sunday, June 22, a small fleet of Tesla’s taxis began offering rides to people in the state’s buzzing capital, according to Reuters.
It marks the first time Tesla’s self-driving cars picked up paying riders. The launch was a “culmination of a decade of hard work,” Tesla CEO Elon Musk wrote in a post on his social media platform X.
“Super congratulations to the @Tesla_AI software & chip design teams on a successful @Robotaxi launch!!” Musk added.
Tesla did the trial run with 10 vehicles in the a neighborhood called South Congress, reported Reuters. While no one was in the driver’s seat, a front-seat rider acted as a “safety monitor” during the trial. It is unclear how much control safety monitors had over the car.
Some people, however, gathered to show their disapproval of the new self-driving taxis. Photos captured protesters gathered on Saturday with signs that stated, “No Robotaxi in Austin.”
See photos from the launch.
Photos show Tesla robotaxis debut in Austin
Contributing: Reuters
Julia is a trending reporter for USA TODAY. Connect with her on LinkedIn, X, Instagram and TikTok: @juliamariegz, or email her at jgomez@gannett.com
