Tesla’s long-awaited Robotaxi rollout in Austin, Texas, turned heads this week—not just for its technical innovation but also for moments of troubling behavior on the road. Videos captured by influencers and early testers showed the autonomous vehicles veering out of lanes and surpassing speed limits. Still, the company’s stock surged Monday, buoyed by glowing reviews from handpicked supporters and Tesla’s enthusiastic fan base.
Driverless Glitches: Lane Swerves and Speeding
The Robotaxi fleet, composed of a small number of driverless Model Y SUVs, began operating on Sunday in a geofenced section of Austin. While the launch was limited and invitation-only, it quickly generated viral attention online.
In one widely circulated video, investor Rob Maurer’s ride was seen drifting out of a designated left-turn lane and crossing a double yellow line, prompting a honk from a nearby driver. Another video posted by Tesla fan Sawyer Merritt showed his vehicle speeding past a 30 mph limit during the same launch weekend. YouTuber Herbert Ong reported a similar speeding experience in his own test ride.
These early issues sparked concern from viewers and critics, especially given that the cars were operating entirely without human drivers. Though a Tesla safety employee sat in the front passenger seat, the vehicles were reportedly in full control of navigation and speed.
Positive Spin from Influencers Spurs Market Rally
Despite the bumps in the road, Tesla’s carefully curated group of influencers who participated in the launch painted a much rosier picture of the experience. Many described the rides as smooth, calm, and even indistinguishable from a human-driven trip.
One of the most vocal supporters was Wedbush analyst Dan Ives, a longtime Tesla bull. After taking two 15-minute rides, he called the Robotaxi service “the future,” and emphasized how natural and uneventful the experience felt. Ives maintained his “outperform” rating on Tesla stock and kept his ambitious $500 price target.
Influencer and former Tesla employee Farzad Mesbahi also chimed in, saying his trip was “very smooth and comfortable.” On social media, he suggested the company could expand nationwide “virtually overnight” if performance stays consistent. Another content creator, Bearded Tesla Guy, likened the ride to a standard Uber experience.
As the positive feedback poured in, Tesla’s shares soared as much as 11%, reflecting renewed investor confidence in the company’s vision for autonomous transportation.
A Closer Look at the Pilot Program
The initial Robotaxi launch is intentionally small in scope. Rides are limited to within a specific section of Austin and are available only from 6 a.m. to midnight. The flat fee of $4.20 per ride—a cheeky nod to cannabis culture—is another signature Musk touch.
About 10 Robotaxis are currently on the road, all supervised by in-vehicle safety monitors. Tesla stated that the service would be suspended during poor weather conditions, suggesting the technology still has limitations under less-than-ideal driving scenarios.
Musk, never one to shy away from grand statements, hailed the launch on X (formerly Twitter), congratulating Tesla’s AI and chip design teams and calling the event “the culmination of a decade of hard work.” According to Musk, both the software and hardware components powering the Robotaxis were built entirely in-house.
Regulators Watching Closely
But not everyone is celebrating. Federal safety regulators have already taken interest. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) confirmed that it’s evaluating Tesla’s answers to several safety-related inquiries, including how the vehicles perform in bad weather and how they comply with traffic laws.
Tesla has requested that its responses be treated as confidential business information—a stance allowed under federal law, though it prevents public disclosure. The NHTSA has not ruled out further action and emphasized its commitment to road safety following a full review.
Musk’s Vision: Robotaxis as Tesla’s Future
Elon Musk has consistently pitched Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) capabilities as the key to unlocking the company’s next phase of growth. He has estimated that autonomous vehicle technology could eventually add between $5 trillion and $10 trillion to Tesla’s market value.
While that vision is still a work in progress, Musk remains committed to rolling out the service gradually. He stated the company is “being super paranoid about safety,” indicating a deliberate pace in scaling.
The launch also arrives at a sensitive time for Musk. Tesla’s stock has seen volatility in recent months, partly due to Musk’s polarizing political connections, including his collaboration with President Trump and the Department of Government Efficiency. The two had a public falling out earlier in June, though recent reports suggest the relationship is back on track.
Entering a Crowded Race
Tesla’s Robotaxi push comes as other major tech players are already active in the autonomous ride-hailing space. Waymo, owned by Google parent Alphabet, and Zoox, backed by Amazon, have been running similar services in select U.S. cities. However, Tesla’s approach is unique: rather than retrofitting vehicles with third-party tech, it is deploying its own AI and chip platforms built entirely within the company.
While this gives Tesla greater control, it also puts more pressure on the company to meet regulatory standards and public expectations.
