Elon Musk stated that Tesla will launch a self-driving taxi service test in Austin, Texas by the end of June
Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced that Tesla will launch a self-driving taxi service test in Austin, Texas, by the end of June, initially rolling out about 10 autonomous taxis, with plans to expand to around 1,000 vehicles within a few months. Despite facing safety concerns, Musk emphasized that deployment will only occur in the safest areas of Austin. This project is crucial for Tesla's future development, especially against the backdrop of increasing competition and declining sales
Elon Musk said Tesla will launch autonomous taxi service testing in Austin, Texas by the end of June
Reuters, May 20 - Tesla TSLA.O CEO Elon Musk stated on Tuesday that Tesla will begin testing its long-promised autonomous taxi service in Austin, Texas by the end of June as scheduled, despite facing safety concerns from U.S. regulators.
In an interview with CNBC, Musk mentioned that approximately 10 autonomous taxis will be launched in Austin, with plans to scale up to about 1,000 vehicles within a few months.
"In fact, we are not deploying across the entire Austin area, but only in the safest parts."
The success of the autonomous taxi trial is crucial for Tesla, as Musk has shifted the company's focus from building new, cheaper electric vehicle platforms to launching autonomous taxi services and the Optimus humanoid robot, with Tesla's valuation largely depending on this bet.
As competition intensifies and Tesla faces a decline in global sales due to Musk's right-wing political views and backlash from working for former President Trump, Musk stated that he would reduce his work for Trump and focus on Tesla. He said, "My rough plan for the White House is to spend a few days there every few weeks, helping where I can."
