In an aerial view, a Tesla showroom at 12845 N. US 183 Freeway Service Street is seen after police had been known as for a suspicious system in Austin, Texas, on March 24, 2025.
Brandon Bell | Getty Pictures
With Elon Musk seeking to June 22 as his tentative begin date for Tesla’s pilot robotaxi service in Austin, Texas, protesters are voicing their opposition.
Public security advocates and political protesters, upset with Musk’s work with the Trump administration, joined collectively in downtown Austin on Thursday to specific their issues concerning the robotaxi launch. Members of the Daybreak Undertaking, Tesla Takedown and Resist Austin say that Tesla’s partially automated driving programs have security issues.
Tesla sells its automobiles with a typical Autopilot package deal, or a premium Full Self-Driving choice (also called FSD or FSD supervised), within the U.S. Vehicles with these programs, which embrace options like automated lane maintaining, steering and parking, have been concerned in dozens of collisions, some deadly, in keeping with information tracked by the Nationwide Freeway Visitors Security Administration.
Tesla’s robotaxis, which Musk confirmed off in a video clip on X earlier this week, are new variations of the corporate’s in style Mannequin Y automobiles, outfitted with a future launch of Tesla’s FSD software program. That “unsupervised” FSD, or robotaxi expertise, just isn’t but out there to the general public.
Tesla critics with The Daybreak Undertaking, which calls itself a tech-safety and safety schooling enterprise, introduced a model of Mannequin Y with comparatively current FSD software program (model 2025.14.9) to point out residents of Austin the way it works.
Of their demonstration on Thursday, they confirmed how a Tesla with FSD engaged zoomed previous a college bus with a cease signal held out and ran over a child-sized model that they put in entrance of the automobile.
Daybreak Undertaking CEO Dan O’Dowd additionally runs Inexperienced Hills Software program, which sells expertise to Tesla opponents, together with Ford and Toyota.
Stephanie Gomez, who attended the demonstration, advised CNBC that she did not just like the position Musk had been taking part in within the authorities. Moreover, she mentioned she has no confidence in Tesla’s security requirements and mentioned there’s been an absence of transparency from Tesla concerning how its robotaxis will work.
One other protester, Silvia Revelis, mentioned she additionally opposed Musk’s political exercise, however that security is the largest concern.
“Residents haven’t been capable of get security testing outcomes,” she mentioned. “Musk believes he is above the legislation.”
Tesla did not instantly reply to a request for remark.
— Todd Wiseman contributed to this report.
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