Autonomous factories to door deliveries on the horizon as driverless tests commenced by Elon Musk
Tesla's much-anticipated Robotaxi service is set to make its debut in Austin, Texas, with an internal launch scheduled for June 12, 2025. The public rollout in Austin is expected to commence around late June to early July 2025, according to Elon Musk, Tesla's CEO. However, regulatory approvals are still pending for the service's expansion to the San Francisco Bay Area, and a specific public launch date has yet to be confirmed [1][2][3].
Meanwhile, Tesla's vehicles are already demonstrating self-driving capabilities. In Austin, Texas, testing of self-driving Model Ys has been underway, with the vehicles driving from the factory to customers' doors without a driver in the driver's seat [4]. This self-driving capability, showcased on roads around the Austin factory, underscores the growing capabilities of Tesla's full-self-driving software [5].
Away from the Texan scene, Riz Akhtar, the founder of carloop based in Melbourne, Australia, has been making strides in the EV sector. A mechanical engineer with a passion for EVs, Riz aims to reduce transport emissions in Australia. He currently drives a red Tesla Model 3 and specializes in Australian EV data, insight reports, and trends [6][7]. In April, it was reported that newly produced Model Y and Cybertruck vehicles could drive for over 3 kilometres right after coming off the production line [8].
In a significant development, Tesla released a video of its supervised full self-driving software in May, demonstrating a Model 3 driving on Australian roads without any driver input [9]. The roads around the Austin factory were not open to the public during the testing, and a black Model 3 sedan was seen driving to a destination in Melbourne, performing a complex hook turn on a street with trams [10].
As Tesla gears up for the launch of its Robotaxi service, the company plans to roll out the service first in Austin, Texas, followed by a service in California later this year, and a broader rollout across the US in 2026 [11]. Despite the initial focus on the US markets, Tesla has not yet confirmed any dates for the global rollout outside of these initial markets [1].
The Robotaxi service's launch in Austin marks a significant step forward for Tesla's autonomous driving technology. As regulatory approvals are secured and testing continues, the service is expected to expand, paving the way for a future where electric vehicles can drive themselves from the factory to a customer's door.
References: [1] https://www.tesla.com/robotaxi [2] https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/tesla-faces-regulatory-delays-launching-robotaxi-service-2021-04-13/ [3] https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-05-19/tesla-s-elon-musk-says-robotaxi-service-may-launch-in-september [4] https://www.tesla.com/news/tesla-robotaxi-service-to-launch-in-june [5] https://www.teslarati.com/tesla-robotaxi-service-late-june-to-september-2025-elon-musk/ [6] https://www.carloop.co/about [7] https://twitter.com/rizakhtar [8] https://www.teslarati.com/tesla-model-y-cybertruck-drive-immediately-after-production/ [9] https://www.tesla.com/news/tesla-releases-full-self-driving-video-in-australia [10] https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-05-26/tesla-tests-self-driving-cars-in-australia/100343688 [11] https://www.tesla.com/robotaxi
The autonomous driving technology developed by Tesla is not only being tested in Austin, Texas, but also showcased in Australian roads, indicating the global potential of this technology in the automotive industry. As the finance sector continues to invest heavily in the EV sector, the Robotaxi service, once launched, is expected to revolutionize the transportation industry worldwide.
