Tesla's Robotaxi takes the form of a restyled Model Y in the streets of Austin. For the first time, a fully autonomous model, without a driver or visible passenger on board, was filmed and shared on social media.
The American manufacturer has therefore decided to launch its tests and its autonomous car service in the Texan city, preferring the metropolis to Los Angeles. On X, Elon Musk, the boss of Tesla, confirmed his preference for Austin (Tesla's headquarters), adding "lol," certainly in reference to the protests in California and the burned Waymo models.
Also according to Elon Musk, the Robotaxi observed would integrate a new version of the Full Self-Driving (FSD) driver assistance software. On June 22, it is to be integrated into around ten or twenty Model Y units, for a public launch.
The cars concerned will operate in a demarcated area and under human supervision "remotely". He added that he and his teams were particularly "paranoid about security, so the date could change". Last month, he told CNBC: "We're keeping a close eye on the cars, and as confidence grows, there will be less need for that."
The rollout is set to accelerate once again, however, as Elon Musk promised that on June 28, the new Model Ys leaving the Austin factory would be able to drive autonomously to the homes of their new customers.
Tesla now only has its Robotaxi to sell to investors
Regarding its Cybercab, the first model designed to be fully autonomous, Tesla has obtained its first permit as a ridesharing company in California from the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). The brand, however, is counting more on Texas for its driverless model, with a first deployment in 2026.
Without giving more details on a Tesla Model Q at a more attractive price than the Model 3 and Model Y, the American manufacturer now depends almost entirely on its autonomous car. Sales are declining due to increased competition, the brand's image has been damaged by Elon Musk's rapprochement with Donald Trump's far-right policies, and the feud with the American president now threatens Tesla's interests.
Source: Reuters
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