Tesla has started its robotaxi service in Austin, Texas. On June 22, Elon Musk’s company began offering rides in Model Y SUVs that drive themselves in a small, fenced-in part of the city. Even so, each car still has a Tesla-trained safety monitor sitting in the front passenger seat to hit a kill switch if something goes wrong.
The service area is roughly bounded by the Colorado River to the north, Highway 183 to the east, Highways 290 and 71 to the south, and Zilker Park to the west. The cars avoid highways, airports, bad weather, and tricky intersections. Only about 10–20 cars are in the fleet, all marked “Robotaxi,” and rides are by invite only through a special app given to influencers and early testers.
Riders pay a flat fee of $4.20 per trip. Early feedback calls the rides “smooth” and “normal,” much like a regular taxi. Some testers joked that finding their pickup spot was like a game of hide-and-seek. Inside, the rear screen asks you to buckle up and lets you play your favorite music apps linked to your Tesla profile. The front display shows the car’s planned route and simple buttons like “pull over” or “stop in lane.” If riders need help, they press a “support” button to connect with a remote operator in a control room filled with live video feeds from each car.
Some robotaxis still use chase cars or remote drivers as extra backup. Tesla’s long-promised fully self-driving Cybercab won’t arrive until at least 2026, so these Model Ys are gathering data and building trust for larger rollouts. Elon Musk says the fleet could grow to 1,000 cars in a few months.
With Tesla already selling electric cars and setting up chargers in the Philippines, Will robotaxis arrive here soon, or is this new service applicable in our country? Perhaps not anytime soon.
Tesla’s website now lets anyone sign up for updates. If tests go well, Manila streets might soon host self-driving Tesla taxis.
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