Jakarta, INTI – Sunday, June 22, 2025, marked a pivotal moment for Tesla and Elon Musk as the company officially launched its first robotaxi service in Austin, Texas, United States. The launch fulfilled Musk’s earlier promise to introduce an “unmonitored” autonomous ride service by June 2025. However, in practice, Tesla safety operators still monitor the vehicle from the front passenger seat, ready to intervene in case of emergency.
Limited Operation and Invitation-Only Access
The Tesla robotaxi service is not yet open to the public. It is currently accessible only by special invitation, mostly given to influencers and long-time Tesla supporters. During the initial rollout, not all invitees were granted access to the robotaxi app until midday.
The fleet consists of Tesla Model Y vehicles marked with “Robotaxi” decals. Operational zones are limited to pre-mapped areas in Austin. The robotaxis do not travel on highways, near airports, complex intersections, or in poor weather. Some units are accompanied by remote operators or escort vehicles as added safety measures.
Features and Passenger Experience
Early testers shared their experiences on social media. One reviewer likened the app interface to Uber, allowing passengers to hail rides and navigate routes seamlessly.
Before boarding, passengers must present the robotaxi app to the safety monitor for identity verification. Once onboard, the monitor remains silent throughout the trip, even if engaged by passengers. Features inside the car include central screen controls like “pull over,” “stop on lane,” and “help,” which connect passengers to a remote operator. According to Chuck Cook’s livestream, the help feature took about two minutes to respond with a live assistant saying, “We’re here to help if you encounter any issues during your trip.”
The vehicle's infotainment system is linked to user profiles, automatically playing the passenger’s saved playlists and preferred music.
Performance and Real-World Challenges
The Tesla robotaxi demonstrated stable performance, handling various road scenarios such as pedestrians, speed bumps, construction zones, and U-turns. The average speed stayed around 40 miles per hour or lower to prioritize safety.
Despite the tech sophistication, manual oversight remains a key element. Elon Musk hinted that Tesla is seeking alternative identification methods should in-car monitors be removed in future versions.
Tesla’s Ambition vs. Waymo's Lead
Musk remains ambitious about expanding the robotaxi service, even aiming to bring it to California despite tighter regulations. He claimed that Tesla will deploy over 1,000 self-driving vehicles on the road in the coming months.
In comparison, Waymo Tesla’s main competitor owned by Alphabet already operates more than 1,500 autonomous vehicles in cities like San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Phoenix, with planned expansions to Atlanta, Miami, and Washington DC. Waymo aims to scale up to 2,000 units by 2025.
Conclusion
Tesla’s first robotaxi launch in Texas marks a bold yet cautious step toward autonomous mobility. Though powered by a special version of Full Self-Driving (FSD) software, the presence of human monitors highlights the current limitations of full autonomy. With Musk’s continuous push for innovation and expansion, the future of driverless transport is approaching, albeit with regulatory, safety, and public adoption challenges to overcome.
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