Texas Democrats Urge Tesla to Delay Robotaxi Launch Until September

A group of Democratic legislators from Texas has called on Tesla to delay its planned launch of the Robotaxi service in Austin until September. This request comes as a new autonomous driving law is set to take effect in the state during that month. The legislators, in a letter sent on Wednesday, argued that postponing the Robotaxi launch would be in the best interest of public safety and building public trust in Tesla's operations. They also demanded that if Tesla proceeds with the launch this month, the company should provide detailed information on how it plans to comply with the new state laws.

Tesla had initially planned to commence its Robotaxi service in Austin on June 22. However, the company's CEO has acknowledged that the exact timing of the launch could change based on safety considerations. Despite the repeated delays, Musk has been eager to showcase Tesla's progress in the autonomous driving sector through this service. Nevertheless, the announcement of the Robotaxi trial has sparked opposition, with public safety advocates staging a protest in downtown Austin last week to voice their concerns about the service.

The impact of the legislators' letter remains uncertain, given that Texas is currently governed by a Republican and has a Republican-controlled legislature. The state's existing laws permit autonomous vehicle companies to operate anywhere within Texas, provided they meet basic registration and insurance requirements. However, a new bill passed last month in the state legislature requires autonomous vehicle companies to obtain operating permits in Texas for the first time. This bill, which has not yet been signed by the governor, would grant the state the authority to revoke operating permits if autonomous vehicles are deemed to pose a threat to public safety. Companies would also be required to provide emergency information to the state, outlining how law enforcement and emergency responders should handle these vehicles in urgent situations.