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Tesla Launches Limited Robotaxi Service in Austin, Texas

story

JUN 23

Above: A vehicle Tesla is using for robotaxi testing in Austin, Texas, US, on June 22, 2025. Image copyright: Tim Goessman/Bloomberg/Getty Images

story last updated JUN 24

The Spin

Techno-optimist narrative

Tesla's Austin robotaxi launch heralds a transformative moment in urban mobility — clean, autonomous vehicles navigating streets with AI, offering passengers a glimpse into tomorrow's transportation landscape. Questions may linger, but this is undoubtedly humanity's bold leap toward a future where technology serves our daily journeys.

InsideEVs Washington Post

Techno-skeptic narrative

Tesla's Austin robotaxi debut reveals profound uncertainties: unproven camera-only technology compared to rivals' advanced sensors, unclear regulatory approval pathways, questionable scalability from a handful of geo-fenced vehicles, and mounting pressure to transform years of bold promises into measurable autonomous driving reality.

FT Bloomberg