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NBC News
a day ago
- Automotive
- NBC News
Everything we know about Tesla's robotaxi launch in Austin
Tesla 's long-overdue robotaxi is finally hitting the streets this weekend, but the rollout may face some roadblocks. The Elon Musk -led electric vehicle company is expected to roll out robotaxis in Austin, Texas, on June 22, with the first driverless trip from the factory to a customer house expected on his birthday, June 28. Musk shared news of the tentative debut in a post on social media platform X last week. Here's what we know about the Tesla event so far. When and where The launch will include a limited number of Tesla vehicles debuting in Austin on June 22. The initial rides will be in the Model Y and not the CyberCab that was unveiled in October. Access to the vehicles and rides is by invitation only. Some influencers on social media have reported receiving early access invites to test out the new service starting Sunday. The rides will also occur in a geofenced area of the city and remote drivers will be monitoring as a backup. Musk told CNBC's David Faber that robotaxis will only operate in the parts of Austin that the company would 'consider to be the safest' and said Tesla will be 'watching' the cars in remote operations centers. Can Musk deliver on promises? Musk has long touted a driverless robotaxi, and the pressure is on the billionaire to deliver on his promises. As early as 2019, Musk said he was 'very confident' that robotaxis would launch in 2020. In May, Musk confirmed plans to debut the service in Austin this month, with launches later set for Los Angeles and San Francisco. At the time, Musk said the service would launch with 10 vehicles circulating Austin. 'It's prudent for us to start with a small number, confirm that things are going well and then scale it up,' he told CNBC's Faber. Wall Street analysts such as Wedbush's Dan Ives believe robotaxis will usher in the 'golden era of autonomous for Tesla' that could power its market capitalization to more than $2 trillion by the end of next year. That's about double its market value from Wednesday's close. 'There will be many setbacks ... but given its unmatched scale and scope globally we believe Tesla has the opportunity to own the autonomous market and down the road license its technology to other auto players both in the U.S. and around the globe,' he wrote in a note. Tesla, once seen as a self-driving tech leader, is now a laggard, trying to catch up to Alphabet -owned Waymo in the U.S. Waymo, which said it reached 10 million trips in May, is already operating a fleet of commercial robotaxis across the U.S. and is also seeking permission to test its autonomous vehicles, with a human safety driver on board, in New York City. Regulatory hurdles and opposition Tesla faces a bumpy road ahead, littered with regulatory hurdles and pushback from lawmakers. On Wednesday, a group of Democratic lawmakers in Texas called on Tesla to push off its robotaxi launch until Sept. 1, when Texas rolls out a new slate of self-driving laws. 'We believe this is in the best interest of both public safety and building public transit operation,' the group said in a letter addressed to Tesla's field quality director, Eddie Gates. They also asked for 'detailed information demonstrating that Tesla will be compliant with the new law' if it goes ahead with the launch. Public safety advocates protested the launch in Austin earlier this month. A group known as The Dawn Project, a tech safety organization that is critical of Tesla's autonomous capabilities, demonstrated a Tesla Model Y with currently available 'Full Self Driving' software running past a stopped school bus and hitting a child-sized mannequin. The group said it was a situation where the software misread the elements in the road. 'Any human ... following the law would have stopped when they saw the school bus stopped with the lights flashing. They would have stopped,' Dawn Project founder Dan O'Dowd told CNBC's ' Squawk on the Street ' on Friday. O'Dowd, who also runs Green Hills Software, a company that sells technology to Tesla competitors, told CNBC that the software is 'nowhere near done' and shouldn't be taking to the streets. 'This software does not know how to recognize a school bus,' he said. Tesla's FSD capabilities, which feature a standard FSD or FSD supervised, include automatic steering and parking, but have been connected to accidents and fatalities, according to data tracked by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Tesla under fire Tesla's brand has taken several hits in recent months with a decline in sales and reputational damage linked to Musk's political activities. Musk was a major supporter of President Donald Trump, funneling hundreds of millions into his reelection campaign and later spearheading his Department of Government Efficiency effort aimed at cutting costs. He left the department at the end of May. Musk's close ties to Trump's White House have caused owners to part with the brand and in some cases led to violence, with showrooms and vehicles targeted in arson and vandalism attacks. But the relationship between Musk and Trump soured earlier this month after the tech titan berated the president's spending bill on X, leading to a drastic sell-off in the stock. He later apologized for his social media posts, saying some 'went too far.' The EV maker is also seeing a global sales decline weighing on key markets such as the U.S. and Europe. Vehicle sales in Europe tanked 49% from a year ago in April, while global first-quarter deliveries dropped 13%. The decline was tied to a combination of Musk's politics and heightened competition in the EV market.
CNBC
a day ago
- Automotive
- CNBC
Everything we know about Tesla's robotaxi launch in Austin
Tesla's long-overdue robotaxi is finally hitting the streets this weekend, but the rollout may face some roadblocks. The Elon Musk-led electric vehicle company is expected to roll out robotaxis in Austin, Texas, on June 22, with the first driverless trip from the factory to a customer house expected on his birthday, June 28. Musk shared news of the tentative debut in a post to social media platform X last week. Here's what we know about the Tesla event so far. The launch will include a limited number of Tesla vehicles debuting in Austin on June 22. The initial rides will be in the Model Y and not the CyberCab that was unveiled in October. Access to the vehicles and rides is by invitation only. Some influencers on social media have reported receiving early access invites to test out the new service starting Sunday. The rides will also occur in a geofenced area of the city. Musk has long touted a driverless robotaxi, and the pressure is on the billionaire to deliver on his promises. As early as 2019, Musk said he was "very confident" that robotaxis would launch in 2020. In May, Musk confirmed plans to debut the service in Austin this month, with launches later set for Los Angeles and San Francisco. At the time, Musk said the service would launch with 10 vehicles circulating Austin. "It's prudent for us to start with a small number, confirm that things are going well and then scale it up," he told CNBC's David Faber. Wall Street analysts such as Wedbush's Dan Ives believe robotaxis will usher in the "golden era of autonomous for Tesla" that could power its market capitalization to more than $2 trillion by the end of next year. That's about double its market value from Wednesday's close. "There will be many setbacks ... but given its unmatched scale and scope globally we believe Tesla has the opportunity to own the autonomous market and down the road license its technology to other auto players both in the U.S. and around the globe," he wrote in a note. Tesla faces a bumpy road ahead, littered with federal regulatory hurdles and pushback from lawmakers. On Wednesday, a group of Democratic lawmakers in Texas called on Tesla to push off its robotaxi launch until Sept. 1, when Texas rolls out a new slate of self-driving laws. "We believe this is in the best interest of both public safety and building public transit operation," the group said in a letter addressed to Tesla's field quality director Eddie Gates. They also asked for "detailed information demonstrating that Tesla will be compliant with the new law" if it goes ahead with the launch. Public safety advocates protested the launch in Austin earlier this month. A group known as The Dawn Project, a tech safety organization that is critical of Tesla's autonomous capabilities, demonstrated a Tesla Model Y with currently available "Full Self Driving" software running past a stopped school bus and hitting a child-sized mannequin. The group said it was a situation where the software misread the elements in the road. Dawn Project founder Dan O'Dowd also runs Green Hills Software, a company that sells technology to Tesla competitors. Tesla's FSD capabilities, which feature a standard FSD or FSD supervised, include automatic steering and parking, but have been connected to accidents and fatalities, according to data tracked by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Time of India
11-06-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Here's when Elon Musk's Tesla is planning to launch its robo taxi service in US
Representative Image Elon Musk has announced a "tentative" launch date for Tesla's robotaxi service in Austin, Texas, set for June 22. The Tesla CEO made this announcement in a post shared on the social media platform X (earlier Twitter), indicating that he'll be travelling from Los Angeles to Austin for the kickoff. Previously, the tech billionaire mentioned a June launch window for the service. When inquired about the start of public rides for the service, Musk specified June 22 as the current plan. He also noted that the first driverless trip from the Tesla factory to a customer's house is scheduled to occur on his birthday, June 28. In his X post, Musk wrote: 'Tentatively, June 22. We are being super paranoid about safety, so the date could shift. First Tesla that drives itself from factory end of line all the way to a customer house is June 28.' Elon Musk shares video of Tesla robotaxi prototype in Austin by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Memperdagangkan CFD Emas dengan salah satu spread terendah? IC Markets Mendaftar Undo Recently, Musk posted an eight-second video on X that showed Tesla's robotaxi prototype being tested on public roads in Austin. The clip showed a black Model Y SUV, marked with a 'Robotaxi' logo, navigating an intersection and pausing for pedestrians, without a human driver inside. Musk said the pilot phase will be limited, starting with 10 to 20 vehicles equipped with a new 'unsupervised' version of Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) software. These initial tests will use the Model Y, rather than the upcoming CyberCab, which is scheduled for production next year. He added that the rollout will be 'geofenced,' meaning the robotaxis will only operate within specific areas, and Tesla employees will monitor them remotely. While some Tesla fans are excited by the launch in Austin, critics, particularly those concerned about road safety and Musk's political affiliations, have raised objections and are planning protests. Apple's HUGE iPhone makeover: iOS 26 & Liquid Glass Explained! AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
CNBC
11-06-2025
- Automotive
- CNBC
Elon Musk says Tesla robotaxi rides in Austin 'tentatively' set to begin June 22
Tesla CEO Elon Musk said on Tuesday that his company's robotaxi service is "tentatively" set to launch in Austin, Texas, on June 22. In a post on X, Musk indicated that he's flying from Los Angeles to Austin for the kickoff, which he'd previously said would be sometime in June. When a commenter asked when public rides will start, Musk said the current plan is for June 22, and that the first ride from the factory to a customer's house will take place on June 28. "We are being super paranoid about safety, so the date could shift," Musk wrote. Earlier on Tuesday, Musk shared a video on X showing that Tesla was testing driverless vehicles on the roads of Austin without a human safety supervisor behind the wheel. The eight-second clip showed the latest version of the Model Y SUV, painted black with a white "Robotaxi" graffiti-style logo painted on it, navigating an intersection and pausing to allow pedestrians to traverse a crosswalk. Musk recently told CNBC's David Faber that Tesla will start with a very small rollout, including about 10 to 20 of its robotaxis, with a new, "unsupervised" version of the company's FSD or "Full Self-Driving" technology installed. The tests will involve the Model Y, not the futuristic looking CyberCab that Tesla plans to produce next year. Musk said Tesla will "geofence" the service, limiting where the robotaxis can initially operate, and that employees will remotely monitor the fleet.
CNBC
10-06-2025
- Automotive
- CNBC
Tesla's three-day rally erases most of selloff from Musk-Trump feud
In the three trading days since Elon Musk's war of words with President Donald Trump last week sank Tesla's market cap by 14% in a single session, the stock has rallied almost all the way back. Tesla shares rose 5.7% on Tuesday to close at $326.09 on Tuesday, leaving the stock about $6 short of where it was trading last Wednesday, before the Musk-Trump brouhaha exploded across social media. The latest jump came after Musk shared a video on X showing that Tesla was testing driverless vehicles on the roads of Austin, Texas, without a human safety supervisor behind the wheel. The eight-second clip showed the latest version of the Model Y SUV, painted black with a white "Robotaxi" graffiti-style logo painted on it, navigating an intersection and pausing to allow pedestrians to traverse a crosswalk. After years of delays and unfulfilled promises left Tesla well behind rivals like Alphabet's Waymo in the robotaxi market, Musk's company finally appears poised to put its autonomous driving technology on public streets, even if in a very limited capacity to start. Bloomberg previously reported that Tesla is expected to officially launch its "pilot" for a driverless ride-hailing service in Austin on June 12, though the company hasn't confirmed the timing beyond saying that it's coming in June. Musk recently told CNBC's David Faber that Tesla will start with a very small rollout, including about 10 to 20 of its robotaxis, with a new, "unsupervised" version of the company's FSD or "Full Self-Driving" technology installed. The tests will involve the Model Y, not the futuristic looking CyberCab that Tesla plans to produce next year. Musk said Tesla will "geofence" the service, limiting where the robotaxis can initially operate, and that employees will remotely monitor the fleet. Tesla is now listed as "testing" on an official website for the city of Austin, EV fan blog Teslarati first reported. The site shares information about autonomous vehicle companies operating in Austin. Waymo, which operates a commercial fleet in the Texas capital, is the only autonomous vehicle maker listed with a "deployment" designation, rather than "mapping" or "testing" on the Austin site. The company also has commercial robotaxi services running in parts of the San Francisco Bay Area, Phoenix, and Los Angeles. In Austin, Amazon's Zoox is listed as testing, as is AVRide, a self-driving vehicle developer that spun out of Russian tech firm Yandex. Sawyer Merritt, a Tesla promoter and fan, originally posted the clip of the Model Y operating on FSD-Unsupervised in Austin. "BREAKING: First ever Tesla Model Y robotaxi with no-one in the drivers seat spotted testing on public roads in Austin, Texas!" Merritt wrote on X. Musk shared the post, adding, "Beautifully simple design." He later wrote, "These are unmodified Tesla cars coming straight from the factory, meaning that every Tesla coming out of our factories is capable of unsupervised self-driving!" Musk, the world's richest person, is coming off a bruising week. After his term running the Trump Administration's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) officially came to an end, Musk and the president began feuding, partly due to the contents of the spending bill that's being debated in congress. The spat turned personal on Thursday, with both men hurling insults at each other from their respective social media platforms. The stock was already getting hit but took a sharp turn lower after Trump said Musk had gone "CRAZY" and threatened to end government contracts and cut off subsidies for his companies. In addition to Tesla, Musk also runs defense contractor SpaceX, artificial intelligence startup xAI (which owns X), health tech company Neuralink and drilling venture The Boring Company. While Trump said he "would assume" his relationship with Musk is over, the president is known to for his transactional approach. The stock bump early this week may be in part a reaction to a more contrite Musk, who has deleted some of the most pointed insults that he previously lobbed at Trump, and has appeared to endorse the president on other policy matters like immigration. Tesla investors have been urging Musk to refocus his attention on the electric car maker after a brutal first quarter that saw automotive revenue plunge 20% due to increased competition from lower-cost EV makers in China and a consumer backlash to Musk's political activities and rhetoric. In key markets throughout Europe and China, Tesla's year-over-year sales declined in the first two months of the second quarter. In a report to clients on Tuesday, analysts at Piper Sandler wrote, regarding driverless cars being spotted in Austin, that "a key component of our TSLA thesis has officially begun playing out." The firm has a buy rating on the stock. Philip Koopman, an auto safety researcher and associate professor of computer engineering, told CNBC that investors shouldn't get too carried away at the sight of Tesla running driverless vehicles on public roads. "We don't know enough from the company, or from this clip, to know if these vehicles are going to be safe, how they operate and what it costs," Koopman said, referring to the video shared by Musk. He said he expects Tesla to rely heavily on so-called "remote assistants," or people who watch the company's robotaxis from a computer in a service center, with the ability to take over control if needed.
