Tesla is set to begin its much-anticipated Robotaxi pilot in Austin, Texas, this weekend, though the launch is proving far more constrained than previously suggested. The service, part of Tesla’s broader push into autonomous driving, will operate within a defined area and under close human supervision, casting doubt on the company’s readiness to deliver fully driverless mobility.
The pilot is restricted to a geo-fenced zone and limited to operating between 6 a.m. and midnight, excluding key areas such as airports. Despite earlier claims of driverless operation, each vehicle will include a Tesla employee in the passenger seat acting as a safety monitor. This approach more closely resembles a supervised public test than the independent autonomous taxi service the company had promised.
Tesla has given me permission to share the parameters of use for their Model Y Robotaxi service, starting this Sunday June 22nd in Austin, Texas. The Early Access phase is invitation-only.
Parameters of Use:
• You must read through and agree to the attached Terms of Service,… pic.twitter.com/RPy5TvUbBg— Sawyer Merritt (@SawyerMerritt) June 20, 2025
Tesla’s system continues to differ significantly from competitors like Alphabet’s Waymo, which has spent years testing vehicles without safety drivers and now operates fully autonomous ride-hailing services in multiple U.S. cities. Tesla’s Robotaxi fleet, meanwhile, appears to be a repackaging of its current Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology with the supervising driver repositioned rather than removed.
Participants in Tesla’s pilot are required to agree to a strict set of terms, including behavioral expectations, app usage limitations, and restrictions on inclement weather operation. The program is currently invite-only and designed for limited public engagement.
Tesla’s move is widely seen as an attempt to demonstrate progress ahead of key timelines, despite continued challenges in achieving unsupervised autonomy. The tightly controlled rollout highlights the gap between the company’s long-term vision and the operational reality of its autonomous driving capabilities.