Elon Musk says Tesla robotaxi rides in Austin 'tentatively' set to begin June 22

Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, announced on Tuesday that the company's highly anticipated robotaxi service is tentatively scheduled to begin operations in Austin, Texas, on June 22. Musk shared this update via a post on social media platform X, revealing that he will be traveling from Los Angeles to Austin for the launch event, which he previously hinted would occur in June. When questioned about the start of public rides, Musk confirmed that the plan is set for June 22, with the first ride from the factory to a customer's residence expected to take place on June 28. He stressed the importance of safety, stating, "We are being super paranoid about safety, so the date could shift." Earlier in the day, Musk released a video on X demonstrating Tesla's testing of driverless vehicles on Austin roads, notably without a human safety supervisor present. The brief eight-second clip showcased a black Model Y SUV adorned with a distinctive white "Robotaxi" logo as it navigated an intersection and paused for pedestrians in a crosswalk. Musk previously disclosed to CNBC that the initial rollout would be modest, involving approximately 10 to 20 robotaxis equipped with a new, unsupervised version of Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology. The testing will focus on the Model Y, rather than the futuristic CyberCab model slated for production next year. To ensure safety and operational control, Musk indicated that Tesla will implement geofencing for the service, restricting the areas where the robotaxis can operate, while employees will oversee the fleet remotely.