Tesla’s long-awaited robotaxi service will launch on June 22, but the first rides won’t be as driverless as promised.
Invitations sent to select Tesla investors and influencers confirm that a human "safety monitor" will occupy the front passenger seat — a significant shift from CEO Elon Musk’s earlier pledge of rides with “no one in the car.”
The move comes amid increasing scrutiny from regulators and marks a cautious first step for Tesla’s autonomous ambitions.
According to the invitation, monitors will accompany riders during initial trips, which must be booked between 6 a.m. and midnight within a designated geofenced area — excluding airports.
Tesla has given me permission to share the parameters of use for their Model Y Robotaxi service, starting this Sunday June 22nd in Austin, Texas. The Early Access phase is invitation-only.
— Sawyer Merritt (@SawyerMerritt) June 20, 2025
Parameters of Use:
• You must read through and agree to the attached Terms of Service,… pic.twitter.com/RPy5TvUbBg
Service may also be limited or suspended in bad weather.
The limited pilot will involve between 10 and 20 Tesla Model Y vehicles.
While Musk previously claimed these would be capable of unsupervised operation and remote management during emergencies, the current inclusion of human safety staff raises questions about the timeline for achieving full autonomy.
Each rider may bring one guest aged 18 or older. Tesla has not yet announced a public rollout date beyond the invite-only phase.
The launch also comes as Tesla faces mounting regulatory pressure.
The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently requested more information about the system’s ability to operate in low-visibility conditions, citing concerns over its safety performance in inclement weather.
Meanwhile, lawmakers in Texas — where Tesla is headquartered — have asked the company to delay operations until new autonomous vehicle legislation comes into effect in September.
The law will require robotaxi services to obtain authorisation from the state’s Department of Motor Vehicles before running without a human driver.
Next week, Tesla plans to launch robotaxis in Austin— before Texas’ new AV safety law takes effect. We’re urging a delay until those safety standards are in place.
— Senator Sarah Eckhardt (@SarahEckhardtTX) June 18, 2025
Public trust comes from safety and transparency. We look forward to working with Tesla to achieve both. #txlege pic.twitter.com/U4svYLLPbm
Despite the scaled-back debut, Tesla’s robotaxi trial remains a key milestone in the company’s broader push toward full self-driving technology — one that Musk has repeatedly described as central to Tesla’s future.
Whether the service evolves into the fully autonomous system envisioned by Musk remains to be seen.
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