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The wait is finally over. After years of promise of its eccentric CEO, Tesla started its highly anticipated Robotaxi service on June 22 in Austin, Texas, a launch that is at the heart of the whole of the company.
It is not only a new feature; It is the cornerstone of Elon Musk’s story that Tesla is not only a automotive company but a power of AI and robotics that changes the world. While the car manufacturer faces fierce competition from Chinese rivals like Byd, the success or failure of its autonomous vision could define its next chapter.
“The launch of Robotaxi @tesla_ai begins in Austin this afternoon with customers paying stable costs of $ 4.20!” Musk announced on X, followed by articles congratulating his teams.
THE @Tesla_ai Robotaxi’s launch starts in Austin this afternoon with customers paying for $ 4.20 packages!
– Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 22, 2025
The service started with a small fleet of 10 to 20 SUVs Model sailing there public roads. In a demo published by Tesla, users of a specific “geofise” area in South Austin can greet a tour via a dedicated application. The concept is simple: a taxi without human driver.
However, the reality of this “limited launch” is more prudent. The first rides were given to a limited group of influencers and fans, and videos published by the company show a “security instructor” seated in the passenger seat, a detail in contradiction with the entirely autonomous dream.
– Tesla (@tesla) June 22, 2025
Musk himself admitted that the company was “super paranoid on security”, a feeling that seems justified given a new law of Texas requiring state permits for autonomous vehicles, which take effect on September 1.
Temporarily, June 22.
We are super paranoid about security, so that the date can change.
The first Tesla who goes from the end of the factory line to a customer house is June 28.
– Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 11, 2025
Basically, Robotaxi is a vehicle powered by the most advanced version of Tesla’s autonomous driving system (FSD) and a series of eight cameras. But unlike competitors, Tesla claims that its system does not need expensive pre-mapping areas. “It works just,” published the company on X, promising a future expansion to cities like San Francisco and Los Angeles.
For Musk, this is the culmination of a longtime promise. He envisages a future fleet, including a new “Cybercab” and “Robovan” without wheels or pedals, which could increase the market value of Tesla by an amazing 5 billions to 10 billions of dollars. On June 20, Tesla was worth 1.04 Billion of dollars, the 11th most precious company in the world. In comparison, Microsoft (3.54 T $), NVIDIA ($ 3.50T) and Apple (3.00 t) at the top of the ranking.
Financial bulls share its optimism. “My point of view is the golden age of autonomous vehicles that start on Sunday in Austin for Tesla,” said Wedbush analyst Dan Ives. “I think this is an opportunity to assess a dollars billion for Tesla.” The investor investor in investor Cathie Wood predicts that Robotaxis could represent 90% of Tesla’s profits by 2029. If they are right, the launch of this weekend was existential.
🚨Breaking: Dan Ives says that Tesla’s largest growth chapter begins on Sunday with Robotaxis
He calls it an opportunity of $ 1 billion pic.twitter.com/fmhfx7mqet
– Muskonomy (@muskonomy) June 21, 2025
But there is a huge problem: Tesla can be late at the party.
Waymo, the autonomous unit of Google and the current market leader, already operates in Austin with a larger service area, as well as Phoenix, San Francisco and Los Angeles. Zoox, supported by Amazon, is live in Las Vegas and San Francisco and tests in several other cities. The question is not whether Tesla’s robotaxis will work. It is if they will work better and faster than those of others.
This fierce competition led the skeptics to reject the great projections of Musk. They argue that Tesla is unlikely to dominate a market where established players already have a significant step ahead.
“What evaluation will be attached to Tesla’s autonomy when it has to divide the hail market from autonomous driving with others?” Ask the investor Gary Black, whose fund has sold all of his Tesla shares.
THE $ Tsla The debate does not concern Tesla Robotaxi vs Waymo or Zoox, or if Tsla Robotaxi will operate at 99.99% of efficiency. Of course, it will work or Elon would not go ahead with the launch of Austin Robotaxi today.
The question – that the bulls prevent painfully – is when the others …
– Gary Black (@ garyblack00) June 22, 2025
This is the question of several billion dollars. Does Austin launch the dawn of the next big chapter of Tesla, or is it a prudent and over-type entrance in a race that she may have already lost?
