- Elon Musk says the service has a tentative public launch date of June 22.
- Autonomous vehicle companies can so far operate in Texas with few restrictions.
- This is going to change; firms will need to apply for authorization to operate robotaxis.
This weekend, Tesla and Elon Musk could turn their long-touted dream of a robotaxi service into reality, after what seems like an eternity of numerous empty promises and missed deadlines. However, several lawmakers in Texas are urging the electric carmaker to delay the robotaxi launch in Austin until September.
The Democratic members believe a delay will be “in the best interest of both public safety and building public trust in Tesla’s operations.” Currently, autonomous vehicle companies can operate their vehicles anywhere in Texas, provided they meet the state’s registration and insurance requirements.
Read: Tesla’s First Robotaxi Caught Driving Itself Just Before June 22 Launch
However, things will soon get stricter. New legislation, which passed the Texas legislature last month, will require companies to apply for authorization to operate their vehicles in the state. This new legislation requires the final sign-off from the governor before taking effect, which is expected to occur sometime in September.
Earlier this month, a driverless Tesla Model Y robotaxi was filmed navigating public streets in Austin without anyone behind the wheel. This prompted speculation that Tesla had already started the service. However, it was quickly confirmed that the vehicle was a prototype. Musk later confirmed on X that the first public rides had been scheduled for June 22, but he warned this was a tentative date that “could shift.”
HOLY CRAP ITS A #ROBOTAXI!!@SawyerMerritt @WholeMarsBlog @DirtyTesLa @niccruzpatane pic.twitter.com/slfAsu0AQl
— Terrapin Terpene Col (@TerrapinTerpene) June 10, 2025
Self-Driving Teslas Are Coming
As reported by Reuters, it’s unclear how much weight the Democratic lawmakers will hold, given that Republicans have majorities in both legislative chambers. The lawmakers insisted that if the launch is to proceed this month, Tesla must provide detailed information on how it will comply with the new laws when they take effect.
Tesla’s robotaxi service is incredibly important for the brand. With Tesla sales mostly stagnating and falling in major markets, it needs to prove the capabilities of its autonomous-driving technology to somewhat justify its sky-high market valuation.
