Tesla's Robotaxi Debuts Today in Austin

Tesla will start offering the robotaxi service starting in Austin, Texas. The launch comes hot on the heels of Musk's decision to return to focus on his business ventures after the controversial stint in the Trump administration. The model chosen for the debut of the service is the SUV Model Y. The Cybercab, initially indicated as the most suitable, it is in fact still under development and will not arrive on the market before 2026. Tesla saw profits plunge 71% in the first quarter due to poor sales in several markets. A trend that Musk now aims to reverse. By choosing Austin for the launch of robotaxis, the billionaire has deliberately opted for an American state known for its approach to business-friendly regulation. Musk had initially planned the launch for the 12th June, before retracting, claiming to be "super "paranoid" about security. "We want to proceed with calm, deliberately," Musk said in an interview on May 20 to CNBC, telling the broadcaster that Tesla would probably only managed 10 autonomous vehicles in the first week. The number will rise to about 1,000 "within a few months. And then we will expand to other cities... San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Antonio,” he stressed. The launch of Tesla's robotaxi comes well after that of Waymo, already active in other US cities such as San Francisco.