A group of Democratic state lawmakers in Texas is urging Tesla (TSLA, Financials) to delay the rollout of its autonomous robotaxi service in Austin, citing pending state regulations set to take effect on Sept. 1, 2025.
In a letter addressed to Tesla's director of field quality, Eddie Gates, seven members of the Austin delegation requested a delay, saying it would be in the interest of public safety and would help build trust in the company's operations. The lawmakers shared the letter publicly via social media.
Under the new Texas law, operators of autonomous vehicles must first obtain authorization from the state Department of Motor Vehicles. To qualify, companies must demonstrate their vehicles can follow traffic laws, are insured and registered, meet federal standards, include recording systems, and can default to a minimal risk condition if the autonomous system fails.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk previously said the company was “tentatively” targeting June 22 for the launch, but noted the team was being “super paranoid about safety,” and the timeline could shift.
The robotaxi launch is a pivotal moment for Tesla, which has faced political scrutiny and stock volatility in recent months. Lawmakers asked Tesla to respond with evidence that its operations will meet the new legal requirements if it moves forward with the rollout this weekend.
