After a decade of ambitious claims about self-driving technology, Elon Musk promises an autonomous future is close. Tesla has announced plans to launch a robotaxi service by June 2025, marking a potential leap forward for the company. The service will debut in Austin, Texas, and utilize Tesla-owned vehicles such as Model 3 and Model Y.
During an earnings call, Musk outlined that these robotaxis will employ Tesla’s upcoming “unsupervised” Full Self-Driving (FSD) software. He envisions that private Tesla owners may also contribute their cars to this fleet starting in 2026. For now, though, the service will rely entirely on Tesla’s own inventory.
This development doesn’t mean that the futuristic Cybercab concept, unveiled last year, will hit the streets anytime soon. Its production timeline remains fixed for 2026. Musk clarified that the immediate goal is to utilize existing vehicles like the Model 3 and Y to gather significant autonomous driving data before expanding production.
Tesla has promised that FSD software, which enables truly hands-free driving, will roll out to private owners in California and “various U.S. regions” this year.
However, previous delays make enthusiasts cautious. Current demonstrations of Tesla’s autonomous capabilities include limited activities, such as vehicles navigating low-speed private roads, like those at Tesla’s Fremont factory.