Key Takeaways
1. Texas lawmakers are urging Tesla to delay the launch of its driverless Robotaxi service until new regulations take effect on September 1.
2. Texas has relaxed rules for autonomous vehicles, requiring only standard registration and insurance, unlike stricter regulations in California.
3. Tesla’s Model Y vehicles for the Robotaxi service already meet many legislative requirements, but some aspects still need validation before the launch.
4. The Robotaxi service will focus on geofenced urban areas, with human operators on standby for safety, similar to Waymo’s approach.
5. A developer interface for the Robotaxi service has been spotted, featuring safety buttons, though it’s unclear if they will be included in the final design.
As Tesla is preparing to kick off its first rides with the driverless Robotaxi service in Austin on June 22, a group of lawmakers from Texas have penned a letter urging the company to delay the launch.
Texas Regulations Favor Tesla
Tesla chose Austin for its relaxed rules concerning autonomous vehicles, unlike stricter regulations in places like California. In Texas, the laws for autonomous cars are similar to those for regular vehicles, requiring only standard registration and insurance.
However, the lawmakers are introducing new legislation regarding autonomous vehicles that will take effect on September 1. They are requesting that Tesla hold off on the Robotaxi launch until this date. The letter states, “Under the new framework, commercial autonomous vehicle operators transporting passengers or property must receive prior authorization from the Department of Motor Vehicles before operating on public streets without a human driver.”
Compliance with Legislative Requirements
The 2026 Model Y vehicles that Tesla currently uses for testing the Robotaxi service in Austin already meet many of the requirements set forth in the new legislation. Some aspects, such as being “capable of achieving a minimal risk condition if the automated driving system is rendered inoperable,” may still need to be proven for Tesla to move forward with the service prior to the new rules being enforced. Other requirements include being able to communicate with emergency responders, but Tesla has already completed the necessary training in Austin.
Tesla is set to roll out the Robotaxi service with approximately a dozen new Model Y vehicles that have been operating around Austin for some time now, featuring the new ride-share logo that can be observed below. There have been multiple sightings of these driverless Model Ys, which seem to have a test passenger either in the front or back seat.
Developer Interface Insights
Interestingly, someone was able to capture a photo of the developer interface for the Robotaxi service while waiting at a traffic light. The user interface features a 3D map along with two prominent buttons marked “Pull Over” and “Emergency Stop.” It remains unclear if these buttons will be included in the final design of the Robotaxi interface, but Elon Musk has emphasized that safety will take precedence during the pilot launch of the service.
Tesla is taking a page from Waymo’s playbook by focusing on geofenced urban areas that it has thoroughly mapped to minimize risks. Additionally, human operators will be on standby to assist, similar to Waymo’s approach.
As shown in the video below, Tesla is currently conducting a second validation run on these city streets to fine-tune how the Model Y’s camera-only FSD interprets the mapped geofenced areas.
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