Tesla finally launches its autonomous taxi service, but it is rather disappointing

This time that’s it, Tesla finally took the plunge. The long -awaited Robotaxis service promised by Elon Musk took service on June 22, 2025. It was initially a question of vehicles ” supervision But the reality is slightly different. Do these autonomous taxis only have the name?

Autonomous vehicles? Not quite

The scene takes place in Austin, Texas. After years of promise, Tesla put her first ” robotaxis ». But contrary to what the boss of the American firm has suggested since 2019, these vehicles do not drive alone. Each model used for the service is ” supervised “By a” safety instructor », Installed on the front passenger seat, ready to activate an emergency stop button in the event of a problem. A measure that sows doubts about the brand’s autonomous driving technologies.

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Other autonomous vehicle operators have already placed humans on board on the driver or passenger seat. But only during the test phases. Tesla is a priori the only one to use safety monitors as part of a sales department. Nor is it a generalized commissioning. The test is reserved for a limited circle of invited testers (ten according to the American media), including influencers known for their proximity to the Tesla universe.

Access is only via a specific application still inaccessible to many users several hours after launch. On the price side, the races are officially offered at a rate of $ 4.20. In short, the experience remains conditioned on a series of constraints far removed from an operational public service.

A few streets of Austin

And that’s not all. For the moment, journeys are confined to a small area of ​​the city of Austin carefully mapped by Tesla. No journeys to the airport, no course on the highway or routes in the event of rain. Vehicles avoid any situation deemed complex by the manufacturer. According to the images shared by the first users, the perimeter is strictly limited and excludes difficult intersections. A precaution that contrasts with the ambitious discourse run by Musk in recent years.

According to the first feedback, the testers believe that the experience recalls ” more that of a VTC than that of a truly independent vehicle ». Inside, passengers must confirm their identity with the safety instructor and manually trigger departure via a button on the central screen. They can also call on a remote operator if necessary. The latter puts ” More than a minute to answer ». In other words, Tesla really does not do without human intervention.

Cybercab always to absent subscribers

But by the way, where is Tesla Cybercab? This vehicle without steering wheel or pedals presented in October 2024 was supposed to embody the future of autonomous driving. It is for the moment absent subscribers. Only modified models are used. Musk now talks about an arrival of cybercab in 2026, without giving more precision. This demonstration looks more like a media blow than something else. Some observers even believe that the Austin firm has been too late on the autonomous vehicle market.

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To date, Waymo, a subsidiary of alphabet, operates more than 1,500 driver -free Robotaxis in several major American cities. And the service is really accessible to the general public. Tesla still seems far from being able to compete with her Californian rival. The promise of a real autonomous taxi is far from being held. The very term of ” Taxi Autonome It seems for the moment more marketing than technological reality. Elon Musk offers himself one more showcase, but not yet a revolution.

In addition to Texas, the manufacturer also wants to launch its Robotaxis service in California. But there, the regulatory process is even more complex. Despite the delay in his business, Elon Musk remains confident and promises that a thousand autonomous vehicles will be on American roads ” in a few months ».