Tesla to introduce its paid robotaxi service in Austin starting from June 2025.
In a significant development, Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, has announced plans for the launch of the company's autonomous ride-hailing service. The service, set to debut in Austin, Texas, in June 2025, marks a significant step towards Tesla's vision of a fully autonomous future.
Musk emphasized the need for caution in the rollout of the service, stating that they want to put a toe in the water and make sure everything is okay before expanding beyond Austin. He also indicated a slight delay for the California launch, saying it would happen before the end of the year.
Tesla's approach to launching its robotaxi service will mirror its broader software deployment strategy. Unlike other robotaxi services like Waymo and Cruise, Tesla's self-driving technology relies on Tesla Vision, software built on a camera-based neural network trained on billions of real-world miles driven by Tesla vehicles worldwide.
Austin was selected as the launch city due to its regulatory environment and Tesla's strong presence in the region. The company has a nearby facility in Giga Texas. The service will feature Tesla's FSD Unsupervised system with autonomous vehicles operating in real-world conditions. Unlike the current FSD (Supervised) system, drivers will not be required to remain attentive.
Initially, the service will be limited to Austin as part of a controlled pilot program. Musk announced that the service will expand to several other US cities in 2025, before being available in 'almost every market' within the US in 2026, pending regulatory approvals. Tesla has been in discussions with local officials to ensure smooth integration with city infrastructure.
The company will start with internal Tesla-owned vehicles to test the technology before allowing private owners to list their own cars for ride-hailing. Musk did not provide specifics, but stated that the service will expand to many regions of the country by the end of 2025. Personal Teslas joining the fleet won't be possible until at least 2026.
Tesla offers a referral program where users can get three months of Full Self-Driving (FSD) if they buy a Tesla using a referral link. Musk's announcement is his most concrete timeline yet for the launch of the autonomous ride-hailing service. Besides Austin, Tesla plans to add San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Phoenix for testing its driverless ride-hailing service in 2025.
The rollout will be cautious and gradual to ensure safety and regulatory compliance. Musk emphasized the need for caution in the rollout of the service, stating that they want to put a toe in the water and make sure everything is okay before expanding beyond Austin.
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