Musk targets June 22 launch of Tesla's long-promised robotaxi service

Core Viewpoint - Tesla is set to begin offering public rides in driverless vehicles in Austin, Texas, on June 22, marking the launch of its long-anticipated robotaxi service, although this date may change due to safety concerns [1] Group 1: Tesla's Robotaxi Service - The initial launch of the robotaxi service may shift from the planned date due to Tesla's heightened focus on safety [1] - Tesla Model Y SUVs have been observed being tested in Austin without drivers, indicating progress towards the robotaxi service [1] - Musk previously claimed that Tesla would launch a robotaxi service in 2020 featuring one million driverless vehicles, which did not materialize [2] Group 2: Full Self-Driving (FSD) Software - Tesla has been refining its Full Self-Driving (FSD) software, which still requires driver supervision, and is currently under investigation for its involvement in crashes [3] - The new "unsupervised" version of FSD is being used in Austin, with Musk asserting that every new Tesla is capable of unsupervised driving [4] - The initial fleet for the robotaxi service will consist of around 10 vehicles, geofenced to the safest areas of Austin [4] Group 3: Comparison with Competitors - Tesla's current approach to deploying its robotaxi service resembles that of Waymo, which operates a commercial robotaxi business in several U.S. cities [5] Group 4: Hardware and Software Compatibility - Musk's assertion that all new Teslas can perform unsupervised driving contrasts with his 2016 promise that all vehicles had the necessary hardware for full autonomy [7] - Tesla has undergone multiple iterations of FSD hardware, and millions of cars may require upgrades to run the latest software, raising questions about the feasibility of such upgrades [7]