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In a significant move towards autonomous transportation, Tesla has begun testing its driverless robotaxi service in Austin, Texas, says CEO Elon Musk. Over the past several days, Tesla has been putting its self-driving Model Y vehicles on public streets without any safety drivers, marking a crucial step towards its anticipated launch next month.

This advancement comes shortly after concerns were raised about Tesla's testing timeline. Earlier reports indicated that Tesla had not yet initiated tests for its robotaxi service without safety drivers, even though the service was scheduled to begin in a month. This stands in stark contrast to competitor Waymo, which conducted extensive testing with and without safety drivers over a year-long period before launching in Austin earlier this year.

Musk claims that Tesla is "a month ahead of schedule," despite only starting driverless testing about two weeks prior to the planned start date. He also promised that Tesla will deliver a car from the factory to a customer using self-driving technology next month. The rollout will feature a small fleet of 10 to 20 Model Y vehicles.

Reports suggest Tesla aims to launch the service on June 12, though the date is still subject to change. Musk indicated the service would employ "heavy teleoperation" for additional safety, admitting that each car might be monitored by one teleoperator.

The rollout has not been without its issues. Several reports have criticized Tesla for not adequately communicating the service details with local authorities. Critics argue that a few days of testing are insufficient for a service of this nature and predict potential safety concerns if the rollout is not managed efficiently.

As the launch date approaches, the public and experts alike watch closely, hoping for a safe and effective introduction of Tesla’s robotaxi service in Austin. Despite the rapid progress, the true test will be ensuring safety and reliability in real-world conditions, well beyond the first few days of pilot testing.