Tesla asked to delay robotaxi launch by Democratic Texas lawmakers - Reuters

A group of Democratic Texas lawmakers has asked Tesla to delay its much-anticipated robotaxi launch in Austin until September, when a new autonomous-driving law is scheduled to take effect.

Austin, Texas — A group of Democratic Texas lawmakers has asked Tesla to delay its much-anticipated robotaxi launch in Austin until September, when a new autonomous-driving law is scheduled to take effect. The lawmakers, led by State Sen. Sarah Eckhardt, have expressed concerns about public safety and the need to build public trust in Tesla's operations [1].

Under the new state law, autonomous vehicles must comply with traffic laws, have a recording device on board, and be capable of minimizing risk if the automated driving system breaks. Operators must also submit a "First Responder Interaction Plan" to the Department of Public Safety [1].

Tesla had initially planned to launch its robotaxi service on Sunday, June 22, using Model Y vehicles running a new version of its Full Self-Driving (FSD) Unsupervised software. However, the lawmakers have requested that Tesla delay the launch until the new law takes effect on September 1, 2025 [1].

In response, Tesla CEO Elon Musk has stated that the date could shift due to safety concerns. He has also mentioned that the first Tesla vehicle to drive itself from factory to customer house is expected on June 28 [1].

The lawmakers have asked Tesla to provide detailed information demonstrating compliance with the new law if it decides to move forward with a launch this month. Musk has not yet responded to the letter [2].

The new law, which passed the Texas legislature last month, would require autonomous-vehicle companies to apply for authorization to operate in the state. It would also give state authorities the power to revoke permits if they deem a driverless vehicle to endanger the public [2].

Tesla's robotaxi rollout in Austin has been closely watched by investors and analysts, who attribute much of the company's stock market value to hopes for autonomous ride-hailing and humanoid robots [2].

References:

[1] https://www.kvue.com/article/money/cars/tesla-robotaxi-rollout-delay-lawmaker-letter/269-e8abda1d-b9ba-4c8c-8f16-f4e589e9c650

[2] https://www.tradingview.com/news/reuters.com,2025:newsml_L1N3SM02F:0-tesla-asked-to-delay-robotaxi-launch-by-democratic-texas-lawmakers/