Tesla Robotaxis Are Officially On The Loose In Texas

Tesla loudly launched a restricted version of its robotaxi service over the weekend, marking what Elon Musk called “a decade of hard work.” The rollout is limited to just 10–20 Model Y vehicles, which are strictly kept within a geofenced area and will operate from 6 am to midnight, only in clear weather, and avoiding highways and "complex" major intersections.

Tesla's initial service is not yet fully driverless. Each ride includes a Tesla-employed “safety monitor” in the front passenger seat. The supervisor holds a button they can press to immediately stop the vehicle in an emergency, although Tesla has not clarified their exact control capabilities. It's been reported that some robotaxis are followed by chase vehicles and remote operators for an additional layer of safety.

Participation in Tesla's robotaxi program is invite-only, with pro-Tesla social media influencers and investors among the first users. Riders pay a flat $4.20 fare and must sign up through a special Robotaxi app. Videos published to social media describe the experience as “smooth” and “normal,” with interactions like U-turns, speed bumps, and pedestrian crossings handled reliably.

Of course, as key influencers and investors, any feedback on the program should be taken with a huge handful of salt. While Tesla aims for as many as 1,000 robotaxis in the U.S. within months, it has some catching up to do in public trust and operational scale. By contrast, Waymo is operating over 1,500 vehicles in cities like Phoenix, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Austin—offering more than 250,000 paid rides each week.

Texas lawmakers have requested that Tesla delay a full rollout until a new regulatory framework takes effect in September. Meanwhile, federal agencies like NHTSA are probing the automaker's self-driving technology, particularly in poor visibility.

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