Tesla's first Robotaxi hits the streets of Austin this month and it might change taxis forever
Published on Jun 04, 2025 at 8:51 AM (UTC+4)
by Claire Reid
Last updated on Jun 04, 2025 at 6:21 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Tom Fenton
Tesla is gearing up to launch its eagerly anticipated Robotaxi service in Austin, Texas, later this month, and it could be a game-changer for the industry.
It has been reported by Bloomberg that the company is poised to kick off its driverless taxi service on June 12.
Boss Elon Musk has previously said Tesla would introduce its automated taxis in Austin before the end of this month.
The report also claimed that the EV maker had successfully carried out its first driverless test on public roads in Austin, with an engineer in the passenger seat.
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Tesla’s Robotaxi has been softly launched in certain cities, including Austin and San Francisco, but for now, it has only been used by Tesla employees.
In a post on X late last month, Musk confirmed that the company had been ‘testing self-driving Model Y cars (no one in the driver’s seat) on Austin public streets with no incidents’ for several days.
The post came shortly after Bloomberg reported that the marque had set a launch date of June 12, although the publication did add that it ‘could still change’.
Musk has said the Robotaxi service will be launched using consumer models of Tesla’s EVs before eventually incorporating its purpose-built Cybercab later down the line.
It’s also been reported that the automated cabs will only work within a designated area, thanks to a special digital fence.
The new Robotaxi service could be a game-changer for both Tesla and the industry.
Musk has already boldly declared that the new driverless taxi service will sound the death knell for one form of transport.
The billionaire CEO claimed that buses won’t be necessary once Robotaxis are out in force.
“Also, buses will not be needed when Tesla rolls out unsupervised full self-driving, as they will take people from point to point for a similar cost to a bus ticket,” he said last year.
At the WeRobot event last year, the CEO said its Cybercabs would be pretty reasonably priced.
“We expect its cost to be below $30,000,” Musk said at the event.
“I think it will be a glorious future.”
Musk has suggested this means the Cybercab will be a lot more affordable than non-autonomous taxis.
“No driver fee. No expensive radar or lidar equipment – FSD uses cameras alone,” he wrote on X.
“Call it once and it’s yours as long as needed, for quick trips or all day. Will be less than $30k when purchased.”
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Claire Reid is a journalist who hails from the UK but is now living in New Zealand. She began her career after graduating with a degree in Journalism from Liverpool John Moore’s University and has more than a decade of experience, writing for both local newspapers and national news sites. Claire covers a wide variety of topics, with a special focus on cars, technology, planes, cryptocurrency, and luxury.
