• Source:JND
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In a groundbreaking development for autonomous driving, Tesla is preparing to roll out its first-ever robotaxi service in Austin, Texas, beginning on June 22, according to CEO Elon Musk. The announcement has sent waves of excitement across social media, particularly after a viral video showcased a driverless Model Y navigating city streets with no one behind the wheel.

Musk, who has long championed the future of autonomous vehicles, took to X on Wednesday to confirm the tentative launch date. He emphasised that the timeline may shift as Tesla is being “super paranoid about safety.” He also revealed plans for another milestone event: the first Tesla vehicle to autonomously drive from the factory to a customer’s home is expected on June 28.

“Tentatively, June 22. We are being super paranoid about safety, so the date could shift. The first Tesla that drives itself from the factory end of the line all the way to a customer's house is June 28,” Musk posted.

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Viral Video Sparks Public Excitement

Public interest surged after a video surfaced on June 10, showing a black Model Y marked “Robotaxi” moving through a busy intersection in Austin without a driver. The vehicle was accompanied by a chase car for safety monitoring. Tesla has been testing autonomous capabilities on city roads, and this test drive appeared to be one of the first successful demonstrations.

Online reactions ranged from awe to optimism. One user wrote, “Can’t wait for my car to be my chauffeur when I can work, rest, sleep, read or just chill while driving.” Another user praised its pedestrian awareness, noting, “What’s great is our first video also shows how well it handles pedestrians. You can see the car noticeably slows down when pedestrians walk across the road.”

Tesla's initial robotaxi fleet will reportedly include 10–20 modified Model Y SUVs operating within a limited service area of Austin. These vehicles will remain under remote human supervision in the early stages.

In his posts, Musk emphasised that these are “unmodified Tesla cars” straight from the factory, adding, “Every Tesla coming out of our factories is capable of unsupervised self-driving!”

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The robotaxi rollout is a major step in Tesla’s broader self-driving ambitions, which are seen as critical amid slowing sales, rising competition in the EV market, and Musk's controversial public image. The upcoming service will serve as a crucial test of public trust and Tesla’s autonomous technology.

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