Tesla (TSLA, Financial) is advancing its plans to launch a robotaxi service, with a potential rollout in June. The company is expanding its ride-hailing app testing among employees in Austin. A video shared on social media showcased a Tesla vehicle being summoned via a smartphone, with a driver in the front seat and passengers in the rear. CEO Elon Musk mentioned preparations for unsupervised autonomous driving.
In Austin and the San Francisco Bay Area, Tesla is testing its ride-hailing app, driving assistance software, and vehicle dispatch functions. Over 1,500 trips covering 15,000 miles have been completed using Tesla's "full self-driving" feature, which still requires driver supervision for safety.
Tesla executives revealed plans to introduce a driverless, remotely monitored software version, expected to be public by summer under the "Robotaxi" brand. Initially, 10 to 20 Model Y vehicles will be deployed in Austin, with plans to expand to other cities and models.
Despite not detailing the Austin employee pilot, Musk noted ongoing local testing by Tesla's quality assurance fleet. The company aims to eventually use a custom-built, two-seater Cybercab without a steering wheel or pedals, targeting mass production next year.
While Tesla focuses on autonomous technology, regulatory approvals for widespread deployment may take years. Competitors like Waymo LLC already operate driverless vehicles on public roads in some cities, including Austin.
