Texas lawmakers suggest delay for Tesla Robotaxi launch in Austin

19 June 2025

Tesla's much-anticipated Robotaxi launch in Austin, originally set for June 22, faces a potential delay following a request from a group of Texas lawmakers. Seven members of the Austin delegation in the Texas Senate and House of Representatives sent a letter to the EV giant, asking the company to postpone its driverless operations until a new state law takes effect on September 1, 2025.

The new Texas law generally keeps a permissive stance on autonomous driving, but it introduces important changes. It includes requirements for following federal guidelines and references the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) autonomous driving levels. Lawmakers believe delaying the launch gives Tesla a chance to ensure full compliance with this updated framework, which is seen as crucial for public confidence in the growing field of self-driving cars.

The news comes as Tesla attempts to launch its autonomous taxi service after years of ambitious promises and missed deadlines. Musk himself has previously said that the planned Robotaxi service is "not really self-driving," suggesting a tad more limited scope for the initial rollout.

The request from lawmakers could offer Tesla a convenient way to adjust its launch timeline. The company is notorious for pushing back targets for its autonomous driving initiatives. Sources indicate that testing of Tesla's Robotaxi without a safety driver has been limited. Some observations even suggest that the "safety driver" might simply be relocated to the passenger seat in the hope of improving public perception rather than truly demonstrating full autonomy.

Adding pressure to Tesla's Robotaxi launch, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave the company a deadline to provide detailed answers regarding its plans. This federal scrutiny shows there's a need for Tesla to demonstrate the safety and reliability of its autonomous systems. The proposed delay until September would give Tesla additional months to comply with both state and federal requirements, potentially mitigating regulatory pressures.

Austin's streets could soon see a fleet of driverless Tesla Model Y vehicles, but the exact details, such as pricing, operating areas, and how many vehicles will be part of the initial fleet, remain largely undisclosed by Tesla. The company's focus on autonomous driving, especially the Robotaxi project, has never been more important for its long-term strategy. Many analysts note that the success of these initiatives heavily influences the company's valuation since the sales of Tesla vehicles have nosedived over the last few months.

The request from Texas lawmakers shows how the regulatory landscape for advanced driver-assistance systems is changing. The June 22 deadline for the Robotaxi service to go live is quickly approaching, and the coming days will reveal whether Tesla opts to launch it as promised or if it will take the unexpected lifeline and delay it for a couple of months.

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