Tesla's robotaxi launch in Austin is happening this June, marking a significant milestone in autonomous mobility. Here's what we know so far ¹:

- *Launch Details:*

- The pilot fleet will consist of around 10 Tesla vehicles, likely modified Model Ys, equipped with Full Self-Driving (FSD) Unsupervised software.

- These robotaxis will operate in designated "safe zones" in Austin, carefully selected for simplicity and low risk.

- Remote teleoperators will be used to monitor and intervene if necessary.

- *Scaling Up:*

- Tesla plans to scale up to 1,000 vehicles within a few months.

- The long-term goal is to deploy hundreds of thousands of robotaxis across the US in the coming years.

- *Safety Concerns:*

- Tesla's autonomous technology is still under investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

- The agency is focused on how FSD performs under poor weather conditions, low visibility, and complex situations.

- *Comparison to Waymo:*

- Waymo uses LiDAR, radar, and sensors, while Tesla relies on cameras and neural nets.

- Tesla's approach might scale faster but is considered more aggressive and riskier.

- *Impact:*

- This launch could revolutionize car ownership and urban life.

- However, it's still uncertain whether Tesla's robotaxi will succeed or face challenges.

Wedbush analyst Dan Ives believes Tesla's launch of Robotaxi could unlock at least $1 trillion in value and potentially transform the financial model and margins of Tesla. The company's focus on autonomy and robotics, including the Optimus humanoid robot, suggests a significant shift in its priorities. Let's keep an eye on how this unfolds!