As Tesla gears up for the launch of its dedicated robotaxi service using the Full Self Driving (FSD) Unsupervised system in June 2025, new details have emerged about the preparations the company has been making. According to a recent report from Insider, Tesla has been conducting extensive testing and training in Austin, one of the key cities for the upcoming service.
Remote Operators
Over the past few months, around 300 test operators have been driving Teslas equipped with self-driving software on Austin city streets as part of “Project Rodeo.” These test drivers are assigned specific routes, including “critical” tracks that require minimal manual intervention and “adversarial” tracks that simulate challenging scenarios. Tesla has also launched a pilot robotaxi service for employees in Austin and the San Francisco Bay Area, with safety drivers onboard. However, discussions have been held about using remote operators as safety drivers once the service goes live for consumers.
In addition to Austin and San Francisco, Tesla is deploying test drivers in other key cities such as Atlanta, New York, Seattle, and Phoenix to gather more data and optimize the FSD system.
Safety Tests
As part of its preparations, Tesla has conducted training events with local first responders in Austin. Documents obtained by Insider reveal that Tesla met with the city’s autonomous vehicle task force, which includes members of the Austin Fire Department, back in December. In March, Tesla participated in extensive testing with local first responders at a test track, simulating real-world traffic scenarios with around 60 drivers and vehicles.
According to a spokesperson from the Austin Police Department, Tesla collaborated with emergency responders from Austin, Williamson County, and the Texas Department of Public Safety during the testing sessions.
Reported Deadlines
While Tesla has publicly announced its intention to launch the robotaxi service in Austin in June, internal sources suggest an aggressive June 1 deadline. During meetings with Elon Musk, VP of AI software Ashok Elluswamy’s team reportedly indicated that the company is on track to meet this deadline. However, some sources believe that the June 1 deadline is more aspirational, with a potential launch date closer to June 30.