Amid growing political tensions, Wall Street expectations, and fierce competition in the automotive market, Tesla is preparing to take one of the most important steps in its history: the initial deployment of its robotaxis service.

Also read: First autonomous Teslas are already circulating in Austin

On June 22, the city of Austin, Texas, will be the scene of the launch of this ambitious project led by Elon Musk.

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Although the billionaire has made similar announcements for almost a decade, this time the date seems more tangible than ever. “Tentatively scheduled for June 22nd,” Musk wrote on his X platform, referring to the start of operations.

However, he did not abandon caution: “We are being super paranoid about safety,” he added, anticipating that any last-minute changes will have the protection of the public as a priority.

For months, rumors surrounding Tesla’s robotaxis have been circulating strongly among investors, analysts and followers of the brand.

Musk had announced in April that his autonomous fleet would be operational in June, starting in Austin, and later expanding to other major cities such as San Francisco, San Antonio, Los Angeles and even international markets.

Geographic control and remote supervision

The initial approach will be controlled and progressive. In an interview with CNBC, Musk explained, “The taxis will be remotely monitored at first and geolocated to certain areas of the city deemed the safest to navigate.” This decision responds to the multiple concerns that exist about the behavior of autonomous vehicles in complex urban environments. According to Musk himself, the pilot phase will include around 10 units in circulation. The objective will be to observe their behavior, collect data, adjust the software and, eventually, rapidly scale the service. “Our vision is clear:create a fully autonomous transportation network that is safer, more efficient, and more affordable than any current option,” he said in another post.

The technology platform behind these robotaxis is Full Self-Driving (FSD), the advanced driver-assistance system developed by Tesla and that has been in beta testing for years.

In its newest version, the software promises smoother navigation and more human-like driving decisions. However, the system has yet to be officially certified as fully autonomous by U.S. transportation authorities.

A Public Demonstration

To build trust—and media attention—Tesla recently posted a video on X showing a Model Y turning through an Austin intersection with no driver at the wheel.

The vehicle bore the word “Robotaxi” on its exterior and was closely followed by another model, presumably also in autonomous mode.

The footage sparked both excitement and Skepticism. Some praise Tesla's boldness in bringing to market a technology that other manufacturers still keep in the experimental phase.

Others, however, question the system's true autonomy and fear that software errors could lead to dangerous situations.

Beyond Austin, Tesla has big plans for its autonomous ride-hailing network. Musk has expressed a desire to bring the service to cities like San Francisco, San Diego, Las Vegas, and New York City within the next two years, as long as local authorities allow it.

The executive also stated that future versions of the robotaxi might not be based on the Model Y. The official unveiling of that new model is expected in the fourth quarter of 2025.

Meanwhile, Tesla will continue its mixed model: selling electric cars to the general public and operating its own robotaxi service with company-owned units.