Elon Musk has announced that Tesla’s much-anticipated robotaxi service will launch in Austin, Texas, on June 22. This autonomous vehicle (AV) service is central to Tesla’s future plans, aiming to boost revenue as the company faces declining sales and profits. However, concerns persist regarding both the safety and economic viability of robotaxis. Traditional automakers like General Motors and Ford have already abandoned similar projects due to high costs and competition. Some experts argue that Tesla’s main competition may not be other AV companies but rather human-driven services like Uber and Lyft. Despite challenges, Musk remains optimistic about Tesla’s dominance in the robotaxi market. While Tesla’s technology relies solely on cameras, competitors such as Google’s Waymo use lidar for obstacle detection, which many consider safer. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has investigated Tesla’s self-driving technology following accidents. Musk’s past promises about the robotaxi service have not materialized, raising doubts about this latest announcement.
— new from CNN
