Tesla CEO Elon Musk has confirmed that the company will launch its first fully driverless car service in Austin, Texas, in June.
This will be the first time Tesla operates self-driving vehicles without a human driver on public roads anywhere in the world.
The move comes after Tesla introduced its Robotaxi Cybercab in October 2024, revealing plans to start driverless ride services in Texas and California in 2025.
However, Austin will be the first test location. Musk explained that Tesla wants to “dip its toe in the water” to ensure safety before expanding the service further.
Tesla aims to roll out driverless rides in more cities by the end of the year. Musk is confident this will happen before 2025 but stressed that safety is the top priority. The company will only move forward once it is sure the risk of injury is very low.
In December, Tesla began discussions with the City of Austin about operating a fleet of driverless taxis. The service will function as a paid ride-sharing option, where passengers can book a ride to their destination without a driver in the vehicle.
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Musk emphasized that Tesla is committed to proving that its autonomous cars are significantly safer than human-driven vehicles.
“We want to prove to ourselves and regulators that these vehicles are unquestionably safer in self-driving mode. We’re not far off—just a few months away,” he said.
For years, Tesla has promised to achieve full autonomy, but this is one of the most confident statements Musk has made about its readiness. However, the company is taking a cautious approach.
Tesla will not make the service widely available until it can demonstrate that its self-driving technology is the safest way to travel.