Tesla's Austin robotaxi service gets a limited launch, with ~10 Model Y vehicles and safety drivers; Elon Musk says initial users will pay “a $4.20 flat fee”

Self-driving technology on which Elon Musk has staked the future of his company debuts in Texas

Financial Times 2025-06-23

Discussion

@carnage4life Dare Obasanjo on bluesky
An interesting note is that the robotaxis slammed their brakes when driving by police cars which probably comes from their training data from human drivers doing that in Teslas. — A good example of how AI is only as smart as its training data.
@carnage4life Dare Obasanjo on bluesky
Tesla's robotaxi service has officially launched. Although it's a somewhat limited launch. — It's available to Early Access users in a small area of Austin, Texas and requires a Tesla employee in the passenger seat to monitor the ride. — Initial customers said the ride is “s…
@elonmusk Elon Musk on x
The @Tesla_AI robotaxi launch begins in Austin this afternoon with customers paying a $4.20 flat fee!
@herbertong Herbert Ong on x
EXCLUSIVE: First Tesla Robotaxi Rides Ever! https://x.com/...
@elonmusk Elon Musk on x
Super congratulations to the @Tesla_AI software & chip design teams on a successful @Robotaxi launch!! Culmination of a decade of hard work. Both the AI chip and software teams were built from scratch within Tesla.
@aelluswamy Ashok Elluswamy on x
Robotaxi Launch party 🎉 ❤️ [image]
@sawyermerritt Sawyer Merritt on x
Here is my experience in one of the first public nighttime @Tesla Robotaxi rides. It was smooth, comfortable and just as good as it is during the daytime. [video]
@tesla_ai @tesla_ai on x
Our approach to autonomy also enables scalability: Tesla self-driving can be deployed anywhere it's approved. It does not require expensive, specialized equipment or extensive mapping of service areas. It just works
@sawyermerritt Sawyer Merritt on x
Here's is Tesla's Robotaxi geofenced area. [image]
@dirtytesla @dirtytesla on x
Robotaxi pulls over for an ambulance 🤩🤩 [video]
@chazman Chuck Cook on x
First Robotaxi Rides https://x.com/...
@heydave7 Dave Lee on x
Here's a 40 minute edited video of my experience on Robotaxi launch day. I share footage from all 5 of my Robotaxi rides and my thoughts. Lots to be excited about if you're a Tesla investor or owner. [video]
@thomasslabbers Thomas Slabbers on x
Even the Dutch media that did report on the Tesla Robotaxi launch are speaking positively, so it must be a massive success! My grandfather told me 25 years ago that one day cars wouldn't need a driver. Now, ‘normal’ looking cars are cruising around Austin with no one behind the […
@fredericlambert Fred Lambert on x
BREAKING: I'm hearing reports Waymo is shook by Tesla's Robotaxi launch. The company is panicking about the level of innovation and currently looking to copy Tesla by designing a kill switch in the passenger door button and adding Waymo supervisors in their rides. [image]
@dirtytesla @dirtytesla on x
Robotaxi special camera cleaning ability! [video]
@snazzylabs Quinn Nelson on x
This clip of the Robotaxi from @TeslaPodcast makes me wonder what uh... what the point of the safety driver is? [video]
@djseo DJ Seo on x
The best tech feels like magic because it's so normal you don't even notice it... until you do. Took a ride in a Tesla Robotaxi today. In this clip, it pulls aside on a narrow street with construction, making room for an oncoming car that illegally turns into our lane. The [video…
@farzyness Farzad on x
My thoughts after 3 Robotaxi rides: - Very smooth and comfortable. Similar to existing Tesla cars with FSD. - App UI is intuitive but can use a couple upgrades (placing a pin anywhere, change trip while in car) - It is completely and totally surreal. As a Tesla owner and
@dirtytesla @dirtytesla on x
I've been in Austin for like 15min and probably seen 20 Waymo, they are EVERYWHERE [image]
@blkmdl3 Zack on x
Robotaxi rear screen UI [video]
@philduan Phil Duan on x
Hi there! [image]
@beardedtesla @beardedtesla on x
Tesla RoboTaxi First Public Ride Livestream https://x.com/...
@elonmusk Elon Musk on x
All your media, streaming and preferred temperature settings just work automatically when you get into a Tesla @Robotaxi
@yammertime01 @yammertime01 on x
So Waymo is trolling the fuck out of the Tesla robotaxi (lol) fiasco.
@dimazeniuk Dima Zeniuk on x
Elon Musk says Tesla's fleet will be part Uber, part Airbnb Tesla owners can easily add their vehicles to the autonomous fleet through the app when not using them. They'll earn money—often more than their monthly payment, while Tesla takes a small cut [video]
@signulll @signulll on x
what a ridiculous moment this is. this image might be in textbooks at some point. “tesla launches robotaxi” doesn't even begin to do any justice in any meaningful way. kinda just the beginning of post driving civilization. second only to space because it basically rewrites [image…
@bradmunchen @bradmunchen on x
Tesla “robotaxi” launch day in Austin. This is the only video you need to see, in case it gets deleted. Watch the Tesla try to turn where it's not supposed to at around 18 seconds into the video. $TSLA [video]
@sawyermerritt Sawyer Merritt on x
Here is my experience (in 4K) from earlier today in one of the world's first ever public Tesla Robotaxi rides in Austin, Texas with FSD Unsupervised! No-one is in the driver seat and the safety monitor in the passenger seat does not have a steering or pedals. It was awesome. [vid…
@zacksjerryrig @zacksjerryrig on x
Turns out @tesla has to certify their FSD as a Level 4 with the state of Texas before September 1st 2025 - or they have to take their ‘cybertaxis’ off the road. 😂 Thank you @GregAbbott_TX for signing this bill yesterday. 🙏 Keep Texans safe!
@mayemusk Maye Musk on x
In 2008, the Tesla Roadster was launched. I borrowed one for this photoshoot in NYC. No one knew what it was. And now, it's Tesla Robotaxi day in Austin, Texas. Love the excitement on the @X posts - being driven in a car without a driver, steering wheel or pedals is so cool 😎 [im…
@tobimuelhauser Tobi Mülhauser on x
What a historic day, Teslas can now drive fully autonomous and be your taxi with the new Robotaxi app 🔥 Thank you @herbertong for taking us with you in the very first public ride 🤖🫶🏻 [video]
r/technology r on reddit
Texas will require permits for self-driving cars starting in September

Chronicles

Tesla's Austin robotaxi service gets a limited launch, with ~10 Model Y vehicles and safety drivers; Elon Musk says initial users will pay “a $4.20 flat fee”

Related Coverage

Discussion