• Tesla aims to launch a pilot robotaxi service in Austin on June 22, starting with around 10 autonomous Model Ys.
• The service will combine Tesla-owned and owner-operated cars, letting owners earn income by adding their vehicles to the fleet.
• Full-scale production of Tesla’s purpose-built Cybercab robotaxi is expected by 2026, with new manufacturing methods speeding up output.

After years of anticipation, Elon Musk’s vision of a Tesla robotaxi hitting public streets is finally nearing reality. The electric car giant plans a tentative launch of its self-driving robotaxi service in Austin, Texas, on June 22. Yet, don’t expect the futuristic two-door Cybercabs to cruise the city this summer just yet. Instead, Tesla is rolling out what it calls a “pilot” program — a cautious, carefully monitored debut that hints at a much larger, bolder rollout down the road.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk warned the date could shift, saying the company is “super paranoid about safety” due to remaining technical and regulatory hurdles. He also revealed that by June 28, a Tesla will autonomously drive from factory to customer—a key step toward full self-driving.

A Rocky Road to Robotaxis: Missed Deadlines and Rivalries

Tesla’s robotaxi journey has been a rollercoaster, marked by numerous delays and shifting deadlines. Meanwhile, the field of autonomous driving has grown more competitive but also more concentrated. Some big players have stepped back, like General Motors’ Cruise, which recently exited the race. Others, such as Alphabet’s Waymo, have steadily expanded their operations, now offering more than 250,000 rides a week in major cities like San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and even Austin itself.

Amazon’s Zoox is another contender, boasting a purpose-built autonomous taxi with no driver. Several tech firms focus solely on software solutions, aiming to provide self-driving features that integrate with various car manufacturers’ models.

Yet, Musk remains convinced that Tesla’s approach — using AI-driven cameras on existing vehicle platforms — will ultimately win out. Unlike competitors who rely on costly sensor arrays including LiDAR, Tesla’s method uses cameras alone to “see” the world, powered by sophisticated neural networks. This strategy, Musk believes, could let Tesla scale up autonomy faster and more cheaply.

On June 10, Musk showcased a driverless Tesla in Austin bearing the “Robotaxi” logo styled in Cybertruck font, calling the design “beautifully simple.” His confidence is clear: “Every Tesla coming out of our factories is capable of unsupervised self-driving,” he said.

What Will the Initial Robotaxi Service Look Like?

Morgan Stanley’s Adam Jonas says Tesla’s robotaxi launch will be invite-only, with remote human operators (“tele-ops”) assisting as needed, rather than full autonomy.

This hybrid approach differs from Waymo and Zoox, which use remote teams mostly for guidance rather than direct control. Tesla’s teleoperators will act as a safety net, helping to avoid mishaps during this pilot phase. Discussions have even considered using these remote workers as “safety drivers” for the initial rollout, an extra precaution to keep passengers and pedestrians safe.

Small Beginnings With Big Ambitions

Musk has been clear: the robotaxi rollout starts small. In an interview with CNBC on May 20, he said Tesla will launch with around 10 robotaxis during the first week in Austin. The plan is to gradually increase that number — 20, 30, 40, and eventually around 1,000 within a few months.

Despite the fanfare, Tesla emphasizes the June launch is a pilot — a cautious test rather than a full-scale deployment. Musk has suggested the service will expand to other cities like San Francisco, though no concrete timeline exists yet. His metaphor captures the slow approach: “We just want to put our toe in the water, make sure everything is OK, then put a few more toes in, then put a foot in,” he said. Safety remains the top priority.

Musk forecasts over 1 million fully autonomous Teslas on U.S. roads by late 2026, scaling from city pilots to nationwide deployment.

Which Teslas Will Become Robotaxis?

For the pilot launch, expect to see refreshed Model Ys taking the lead. Musk confirmed these cars will get a software update that enables autonomous driving, transforming them into robotaxis without any hardware changes.

A Model Y spotted in Austin recently sported a robotaxi logo on its side, signaling Tesla’s readiness. However, whether these robotaxis will be managed directly by Tesla or operated through private owners opting into the service remains unclear.

Adding to the confusion is Tesla’s upcoming Cybercab — a sleek, two-door robotaxi unveiled last October, which lacks a steering wheel altogether. Musk clarified this is a separate product and further off in the timeline. Cybercab volume production is slated for 2026, while the pilot uses existing cars retrofitted with the new software.

The Business Model: A Mix of Uber and Airbnb?

Elon Musk envisions the robotaxi service as a unique blend of Uber’s ride-hailing and Airbnb’s peer-to-peer sharing. Tesla owners could add their vehicles to the autonomous fleet, earning money when their cars are rented out as robotaxis.

“It’s a combination of a Tesla-owned fleet and owners being able to add or subtract their cars from the fleet,” Musk explained. He suggested owners might make more income renting their cars autonomously than what they pay for leases. Earlier, he estimated annual earnings for some owners could reach around $30,000 — a compelling incentive.

However, Tesla has yet to release the commercial version of its Full Self-Driving (FSD) Unsupervised software, which would allow cars to operate without any human driver inside. This technology is key to Tesla’s robotaxi ambitions, enabling a truly driverless experience.

How Will Customers Request a Tesla Robotaxi?

Tesla teased a ride-hailing app last year that would make calling a robotaxi simple. A video showed a user tapping a “summon” button, then watching a map count down the minutes until their car arrives. The app also lets passengers adjust climate settings before the ride.

Though this app is still in development, it gives a glimpse into how Tesla plans to compete with other on-demand services.

The Cybercab Is Still a Ways Off

Tesla’s Cybercab won’t join this summer’s pilot, as the company focuses on finalizing prototypes (“B-sample validation”), said VP Lars Moravy.

“Big builds,” or large-scale prototype construction, are scheduled for the end of the second quarter. Production volume is expected in 2026, according to Tesla’s plan.

Tesla is betting on a revolutionary “unboxed” manufacturing process, where different car components are built simultaneously and then assembled later — a departure from traditional assembly lines. This could accelerate production and reduce costs.

Public Reactions and The Road Ahead

Public response to Tesla’s robotaxi news is mixed. Enthusiasts praise Musk’s relentless drive to bring true autonomy to the masses. They are excited by the prospect of safer roads and new income streams for Tesla owners. Others remain skeptical. They point to Tesla’s history of missed deadlines and safety controversies related to its Full Self-Driving claims.

Regulators, too, are watching closely. The pilot will be a crucial test not just for Tesla’s technology, but for the broader acceptance of autonomous vehicles sharing the roads with human drivers and pedestrians.

Despite the unknowns, one thing is clear: Tesla’s robotaxi could reshape transportation as we know it. If Musk’s vision pans out, the streets of Austin—and soon other cities—might look very different in the coming years, with millions of Teslas silently ferrying passengers around without a human behind the wheel.

For now, all eyes are on Austin this June, waiting to see if Tesla’s robotaxi dream finally rolls into reality.