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Austin, TX – June 26, 2025
Tesla launched its much-anticipated robotaxi pilot program in Austin, Texas, but it now faces scrutiny after several driving errors. The program began on June 22 with a fleet of modified Model Y vehicles. It promised fully autonomous rides for just $4.20. However, video footage and user feedback have revealed some problems with performance.
In a few instances, the robotaxis veered into traffic, stopped abruptly without indicating any obstructions, and exhibited fake braking behavior. They also dropped people in areas that were deemed unsafe and swerved into the curbs or suddenly accelerated. Despite having safety monitors for humans on the vehicle, these incidents have caused grave safety and regulatory issues.
The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has officially launched an inquiry about the program. Regulators have sought specific reports from Tesla with regard to the technical data on performance as well as incident logs as part of an ongoing investigation.
Experts in the field of autonomous vehicles expressed concern about the early performance. “These are not minor bugs; some of these actions could lead to serious accidents,” said Dr. Philip Koopman, a self-driving safety researcher from Carnegie Mellon University.
While some users have reported calm and safe rides, the recurring nature of the same errors across multiple rides has raised concerns about Tesla’s ability to successfully launch an autonomous vehicle. Tesla President Elon Musk has long been an advocate for robotics in transportation as the next frontier and is pursuing fully autonomous vehicles with no human involvement.
As the level of scrutiny from regulators and the public increases, Tesla’s robotaxi launch could be delayed or have additional testing requirements prior to broader adoption being permitted.
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