Tesla saw its shares jump more than 8% on the New York Stock Exchange after launching its first autonomous taxi service in Texas, United States.
In Austin, selected customers tested the new driverless transportation system, operating within a restricted area and with human supervision in the driver’s seat. Each ride cost US$ 4.20, and the model used was the Tesla Model Y, as the company prepares to launch the Cybercab, a 100% autonomous vehicle with no steering wheel or pedals, scheduled for 2026.
Dan Ives, an analyst from Wedbush who participated in the trial, highlighted the launch as a milestone in the automaker’s use of artificial intelligence. According to him, robotaxi technology could double Tesla’s market value, potentially boosting its capitalization by up to one trillion dollars.
Currently, Tesla is racing to catch up with competitors like Waymo, from Google, whose autonomous service has been operating in several U.S. cities since 2021.
Despite the innovation, Tesla faces challenges. The company has been losing ground to Chinese competitors and is struggling with the lack of new vehicle models. In addition, controversial statements by Elon Musk, including his support for far-right governments in Europe and his connection to Donald Trump, have sparked debate and affected the company’s image in the global market.
Source: UOL | Photo: X @robotaxi | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
— Tesla (@Tesla) June 22, 2025
