Tesla expands robotaxi testing and prepares to launch service in June 2025

Tesla has expanded its internal testing of its robo-taxi service among employees in Austin, a step closer to launching the autonomous service, scheduled for June 2025. The company posted a video on social media of a passenger hailing a car through the app, Bloomberg reports.

Elon Musk commented on the publication with the words: "Getting ready for unsupervised self-driving." At the moment, the service is not yet fully autonomous - there is a safety driver in the cabin who can intervene if necessary.

The company has already completed more than 1,500 trips totaling 15,000 miles (approximately 24,000 km). The testing goals include testing the app, car sharing features, and refining the driving system.

Tesla plans to launch a public version of its robo-taxi this summer. Initially, the service will operate in Austin on 10-20 Model Y cars, and later in other cities. Tesla is also working on a special two-seater Cybercab car without a steering wheel and pedals, the mass production of which is planned for 2026.

While Tesla has already received permission in California to carry passengers, it will initially be limited to employees. For fully autonomous trips, the company will need to obtain additional permits.

Tesla's competitors include Waymo, which has already launched self-driving services in some cities, including Austin. For Tesla, the successful launch of robo-taxi is strategic, as Musk links the company's future to autonomous technologies.