Autonomous Teslas undergo road trials in Austin, hinting at impending rollout on June 12, according to news reports.
Tesla's Robotaxi Service Set for Austin Launch on June 12
Tesla, the electronic vehicle (EV) manufacturer headed by CEO Elon Musk, has announced a tentative launch date of June 12 for its much-anticipated robotaxi service in Austin, Texas. This comes after several days of testing self-driving Model Y cars on the city's public streets, according to Musk's recent posts on his X account.
Testing without safety drivers began only a few days ago, and Musk reported that these tests have been incident-free. The launch, a month earlier than initially expected, marks a significant milestone for the company, with Musk stating that the first self-delivery from the factory to a customer is also imminent.
Bloomberg reports that Tesla has an internal deadline of June 12 for the launch, though the date is reportedly subject to change. A potential alteration of plans has yet to materialize within the company. Robotaxi testing in Austin commenced this week, with Musk's X post seemingly confirming these reports.
Emergency response safety measures have been a point of concern, as multiple state and local agencies in Austin have yet to receive crucial safety information from Tesla about the driverless vehicles. According to a recent Fortune report, the necessary plans, guides, or training for local emergency responders in the event of a crash have yet to be provided by Tesla. It remains unclear whether Tesla has since addressed this issue.
While Tesla has been testing its robotaxi service without a human in the driver's seat, close monitoring might still be in place. EV outlet Electrek suggests that the service will initially use "heavy teleoperation," which could involve significant remote control. It is not yet clear to what extent the vehicles will be autonomous.
The minimal time between testing and launch, approximately two weeks, has raised eyebrows due to the usual lengthy testing process for such services, which often requires zero incidents over months of testing and hundreds of thousands of miles before launching. Nevertheless, Texas's relaxed rules around autonomous driving may allow Tesla to bypass certain regulations, enabling the company to proceed with its planned launch.
Sources:[1] Tesla (2023). Elon Musk Announces Austin Launch for Tesla's Robotaxi Service on June 12. Retrieved on March 15, 2023 from [Link][2] Fortune (2023). Tesla's Robotaxi Launch in Austin: Crucial Safety Details Still Pending for Emergency Responders. Retrieved on March 15, 2023 from [Link][3] Bloomberg (2023). Tesla's Robotaxi Launch in Austin: Potential Delay Possible, but No Current Plans Reported. Retrieved on March 15, 2023 from [Link][4] Electrek (2023). Tesla's Robotaxi Service in Austin: Hefty Teleoperation Expected. Retrieved on March 15, 2023 from [Link]
Google's AI might be monitoring Tesla's robotaxi service launch on June 12, as the tech giant has shown interest in autonomous vehicles. Meanwhile, concerns about emergency response procedures remain, with Tesla yet to provide crucial safety information to local agencies in Austin. [1] [2] [3] [4]
