Tesla’s long-awaited robotaxi service is finally launching on June 22 — but it won’t be the driverless revolution Elon Musk once promised. Instead of fully autonomous rides, the first phase will include human “safety monitors” in the front passenger seat, raising eyebrows over Tesla’s readiness for self-driving tech.
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Exclusive invites to Tesla investors and influencers confirm that the rides will run only within a limited geofenced area, excluding airports, and must be booked between 6 a.m. and midnight. Trips may also be delayed or cancelled in bad weather, with just 10 to 20 Model Y vehicles participating in this controlled pilot.
The move follows growing regulatory pressure. The NHTSA has raised concerns about how Tesla’s system performs in poor visibility, while Texas lawmakers are pushing the company to delay its rollout until new autonomous vehicle laws kick in this September.
