On June 12th, Tesla Robotaxi is coming
Tesla's Robotaxi service is expected to launch in Austin on June 12, with driverless cars already undergoing road tests this week. Analysts suggest that, against the backdrop of autonomous driving technology not yet fully matured, each test and launch could amplify market sentiment
Musk's autonomous driving bet is about to pay off, with the Robotaxi debut possibly set to open on June 12.
According to Bloomberg citing informed sources, Tesla plans to launch its highly anticipated robotaxi service in Austin, Texas on June 12. This internal news has not been officially confirmed, but it aligns with Musk's previous promise of "launching the service by the end of June."
The report states that Tesla has conducted its first fully "driverless" test on public roads in Austin this week—a Model Y SUV drove autonomously with no one in the driver's seat, while a Tesla engineer sat in the passenger seat, and there was no remote operation intervention throughout the process.
Informed sources also revealed to the media that Tesla's recent testing in Austin has expanded to employee shuttling, accumulating more data support for the public launch.
Musk stated this month that Tesla will initially deploy about 10 autonomous robotaxis in Austin, rapidly expanding to 1,000 vehicles within the following months. Reports indicate that the company has conducted extensive testing in the southern and southeastern areas of the city, with Tesla test vehicles equipped with safety drivers "visible everywhere" locally.
Tesla's choice of Austin as the starting point for its Robotaxi service is not coincidental.
Texas is home to Tesla's headquarters, and local regulations on autonomous driving are relatively lenient; vehicles only need to be equipped with cameras, comply with traffic laws, and hold insurance to be roadworthy. While the Austin city government does not directly regulate autonomous vehicles, it has established a dedicated task force to coordinate with companies like Tesla. Previously, companies like Waymo, a subsidiary of Alphabet, have operated here.
Musk has made it clear that the Robotaxi service will be a core pillar of Tesla's future business. However, from technical reliability to user trust, Tesla must overcome multiple obstacles, especially in the context of autonomous driving technology not being fully mature; each test and launch could amplify market sentiment.
Currently, market reactions are relatively calm, with Tesla's stock price rising 1.1% after Wednesday's close, but it is still down 12% year-to-date. Investors seem to be waiting for the actual implementation of this ambitious plan to assess its true impact on Tesla's long-term business model
