Tesla’s Robotaxi service starts with a safety helper

Tesla is set to launch its robotaxi service in Austin, Texas, on June 22, but it comes with a twist: a safety helper will sit in the front passenger seat during rides. This news, first reported by Electrek, shows Tesla is taking a careful approach to its driverless ride-hailing program. Invitations sent to select customers reveal that the service will operate within a specific area of Austin, between 6 AM and midnight, and may pause during bad weather.

Riders can’t use the service to or from airports. Elon Musk, Tesla’s CEO, had promised a fully driverless robotaxi service with no one in the car by this summer. However, the presence of a safety helper suggests Tesla is prioritizing caution for now. Riders must follow rules, like not bringing tools to study or record the robotaxi’s tech, or they risk being banned from the service. Only invited users can test the service, and they can bring one guest, who must be 18 or older.

The launch will start small, with just 10 to 20 Model Y vehicles, not the sleek Cybercab shown earlier. While this is a big step for Tesla, it faces competition from companies like Waymo, which already offers driverless rides in several cities. Some Texas lawmakers have asked Tesla to delay the launch until September, when new self-driving laws take effect, but Tesla is moving forward. This careful rollout shows Tesla’s focus on safety as it steps into the world of autonomous taxis.