A Tesla Model Y branded “Robotaxi” was seen driving on the streets of Austin, Texas, United States, without a driver at the wheel, marking what appears to be the first public appearance of Tesla’s long-awaited autonomous taxi.
The video of the vehicle was shared on social media and even reposted by the company’s head of autonomy and AI, Ashok Elluswamy, which reinforced the idea that the model is real. This activity takes place shortly before the supposed official launch of the service, scheduled for June, although Tesla has not yet confirmed the exact date.
According to Elon Musk and other company executives, the vehicles will operate without human drivers but will be remotely monitored. The debut is expected to be modest, with only 10 to 12 cars of the current model, quite different from the futuristic concept presented last year, which included a two-door car and a van for larger groups. Even so, Musk foresees rapid growth, with hundreds of thousands or even millions of autonomous Teslas in operation in the US by the end of next year.
Despite the enthusiasm, Tesla still faces doubts about the safety and effectiveness of its autonomous driving technology based solely on cameras and artificial intelligence.
At a time when the company is dealing with declining sales and Musk himself faces public criticism for his political actions, the success of the Robotaxi could represent an important strategic turnaround for the automaker’s future.
Source: InsideEVs | Photo: X @SawyerMerritt | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
Slowly slowly at first, then … https://t.co/MxYCwhGJZw
— Ashok Elluswamy (@aelluswamy) June 10, 2025
