Today, Explained Elon Musk presents: Taxis
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Jun 24, 2025 
Andrew Hawkins, the Transportation editor at The Verge, dives into Tesla's ambitious launch of its robo-taxi service in Texas. He discusses the crucial implications of this rollout for Tesla’s future in autonomous driving. The conversation touches on the challenges facing the initiative, including safety concerns and Musk's unfulfilled promises. Hawkins also contrasts Tesla's approach with competitors like Waymo, shedding light on public trust and the future of transportation as robo-taxis become more prevalent.
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Tesla's Small-Scale Robo-Taxi Launch
- Tesla launched its long-promised robo-taxi service in Austin, Texas, but it was invite-only and small scale.
- Around 10 to 20 vehicles operated in a limited area, marking Tesla's first real deployment of robo-taxis.
Urgency Behind Tesla's Launch
- Tesla's launch comes amid a brand crisis and increased competition, pushing urgency for delivery.
- Elon Musk's repeated delays on full autonomy ended, compelling Tesla to release despite imperfections.
Safety Concerns for Tesla's System
- Tesla's robo-taxi service showed early mistakes such as driving on the wrong side and abrupt braking.
- Full self-driving tech has had fatal incidents, raising safety concerns among advocates and regulators.