Tesla’s planned robotaxi launch in Austin, Texas on June 22 is under pressure at the state level to be postponed. Seven Texas senators and representatives have asked the Elon Musk-led company to postpone the launch until after September 1, 2025, stating that autonomous vehicle services need to be built on a more solid foundation in terms of public safety and public support.

Will Tesla’s robotaxi launch be delayed?

The letter sent to Tesla asked the company to publicly declare that it is fully compliant with the new law that is expected to go into effect. The law requires autonomous vehicles to comply with federal standards and clearly requires compliance with SAE autonomy levels.

While there are currently no strict restrictions on these technologies in Texas, it is stated that the legal framework will become clear once the new regulation goes into effect. Tesla has been seriously delayed in implementing its autonomous driving promises, which it has been making on various dates for years.

The company was planning to take a strong step towards the public with this delayed process with the launch on June 22. However, some reports also revealed that Tesla was not fully prepared for the robotaxi operation in Austin in technical and operational terms.

In this context, it is stated that the political call received could be considered as a suitable reason for the company to postpone the launch. Regulatory uncertainties and safety concerns regarding autonomous driving technologies affect not only Tesla but the entire industry.

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