### Tesla Eyes June 12 for Robotaxi Service Launch Amidst Market Volatility

Tesla is gearing up for the anticipated launch of its autonomous ride-hailing service in Austin, Texas. Market watchers are closely observing a targeted date of June 12, although the electric vehicle giant has not officially confirmed this timeline. This development could potentially provide a significant boost to Tesla's stock, which endured a recent period of volatility.

Amidst a week marked by political tensions between CEO Elon Musk and President Trump, Tesla shares saw considerable fluctuations. The stock rebounded by nearly 4%, closing just above $295 last Friday, after a sharp 14% drop the previous day. Despite this recovery, Tesla's stock has lost roughly 25% of its value since the beginning of the year.

The much-anticipated robotaxi program could initially feature approximately 10 Model Y vehicles operating autonomously. Elon Musk indicated last month during both an earnings call and an interview with CNBC that the project remains on track for a late-month launch. Expansion to additional vehicles and cities is expected over time, with Tesla owners eventually having the option to add their vehicles to the ride-hailing fleet.

Industry analysts have varied expectations regarding Tesla's autonomous driving software. Oppenheimer analysts emphasized the company's need to achieve fully autonomous driving with its existing suite of cameras to maintain its technology leadership. However, they suggested that reliable autonomous performance might require further hardware and software updates. Conversely, Wedbush's Dan Ives has expressed a more optimistic outlook, suggesting that successful autonomous driving technology could add as much as $1 trillion in value to Tesla.

The mixed sentiment among analysts is mirrored in their stock ratings. Of the brokers tracked by Visible Alpha, 10 have given Tesla a "buy" rating, while four recommend "hold" and another four suggest "sell." Their average price target is around $304, though individual targets vary widely from $120 to $500.

As Tesla moves closer to potentially launching its robotaxi service, market participants remain keenly attentive. A successful rollout could be a pivotal moment for the company, potentially solidifying its leadership in autonomous driving technology and providing much-needed buoyancy to its stock.