Will Elon Musk Deliver Tesla's Robotaxi as Promised in August?

Elon Musk announced the unveiling of Tesla's robotaxi next month, but some claimed that the upcoming car could make or break Tesla.

Will Elon Deliver Robotaxi on August 8?

In April, the SpaceX and Tesla CEO announced that Tesla would unveil its robotaxi on Aug. 8. He didn't include any details. He only wrote "Tesla Robotaxi unveil on 8/8" on X, formerly Twitter.

Some are wondering if he only made the announcement after another report claimed that the company scrapped low-cost car plans amid tight competition with Chinese EVs. Tesla opted to halt its plans for the next-gen EV to deliver Musk's dream of a self-driving taxi or driverless taxi. Musk has always wanted to produce a driverless car with full self-driving software, but autonomous vehicles could still be decades away.

As for the possibility of Musk delivering Tesla's anticipated robotaxi on time, the company reportedly has to address some regulatory hurdles. It has to show that full self-driving (FSD) is safer than human driving.

Also, Tesla has allegedly not yet contacted the appropriate authorities to request permission to use the robotaxi. Following Musk's declaration, NBC News contacted officials in Arizona, Nevada, and California to find out if Tesla had submitted an application for the licenses needed to operate autonomous vehicles, and there was reportedly none. Those above are among the states that permit driverless car testing, albeit some demand that a driver always be at the wheel.

It appears that robotaxi testing will be too distant because Tesla hasn't even tried to obtain permission. Tesla may have no immediate plans to begin testing. In that scenario, the concept of a robotaxi is probably what we'll see on Aug. 8.

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Are Robotaxis Safer Than Uber and Lyft Drivers?

Robotaxis has received mixed opinions from other drivers, customers, and locals in the states where it operates. Some favor robotaxis over angry drivers, but some prefer Uber and Lyft drivers, especially people with disabilities who need assistance when riding a cab.

Drivers for Uber and Lyft have voiced fear that the development of robotaxis will jeopardize their capacity to provide for their families. They claimed they would lose employment if autonomous taxis became more common. Rosine, an Uber driver in the city, said she was a single mom and driving was her means of living.

Some contended that robotaxis hasn't proven itself to be safe. Taxi driver Matthew Sutter stated that although he is interested in technology, he does not believe robotaxis is ready to serve the public safely. The garbage truck industry representatives said that the self-drive taxis regularly broke down and blocked their cars.

Some who advocated for individuals with physical disabilities also expressed concerns about how they would get into taxis without a driver's help. Paratransit Coordinating Council member Mara Math claimed that approving robotaxis will "leave disabled San Franciscans out in the cold."

Some did, however, agree with it. George Janku, a San Francisco orthopedic surgeon and passionate cyclist, noted how these cars operate and expressed his trust in robotaxis over irate and inattentive drivers. For him, robotaxis was safer, while noting the multiple serious accidents he encountered involving human drivers.

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