Oliver Haslam on June 23, 2025, 4:54 pm

Tesla’s Robotaxi Service Is Live In Austin, Texas

Tesla’s robotaxi service is now live in Austin, Texas for the first time, with people now starting to report their experience with the service.

However, the service wasn’t available to the public which may have an impact on the feedback. The only people able to take robotaxis for a spin are those invited to do so – so Tesla fans and influencers.

It’s also vital to note that these Tesla robotaxis were not fully autonomous, with a driver being present to react to any situations that might pop up that require some sort of intervention. They’re called “safety monitors,” rather than drivers, and can are expected to be removed once the testing phase has been completed.

The Verge reports that the rides were also limited in scope, with a specific area of the Austin area available for testing purposes. Tesla is also reportedly using chase cars, although it isn’t yet clear why.

Currently, around 20 Model Y vehicles are being used for the test. There are more limitations, too. “The service operates in a small, relatively safe area of Austin from 6AM to 12AM, avoiding bad weather, highways, airports, and complex intersections,” The Verge reports.

Thankfully, being driven by a robotaxi seems to have been uneventful, so far.

Several invitees livestreamed themselves summoning their first cars, interacting with the UI, and then arriving at their destination. Several videos lasted hours, as the invitees would conclude a trip and then hail another car immediately after. One tester, Bearded Tesla Guy, described the app’s interface as “basically Uber.” Many had some difficulty finding the pickup location of their waiting Tesla robotaxi.

From here, Tesla CEO Elon Musk has said that he wants to launch the robotaxi service in California. However, Texas has more lax regulatory requirements, hence the services’ debut there instead.