Tesla tests supervised self-driving ride-hailing service with employees ahead of summer launch

Tesla has initiated testing of its supervised Full Self-Driving (FSD) ride-hailing service with employees in Austin and the San Francisco Bay Area. This phase precedes the anticipated public launch of its robotaxi platform slated for summer 2025. The early trials involve Tesla staff using a new ‘Robotaxi’ app to hail rides, with the service having already logged over 1,500 trips and 15,000 miles. Despite the term ‘Full Self-Driving,’ the current version still requires human supervision and the presence of a safety driver.

The company shared a promotional video showcasing a modified Model 3, featuring a screen for passengers displaying ride details, climate control, music options, and an emergency stop button. While Tesla previously introduced a futuristic Cybercab concept with no steering wheel or pedals, this initial rollout uses existing vehicle models.

CEO Elon Musk indicated plans to deploy 10 to 20 vehicles on launch day in Austin and suggested the eventual use of an unsupervised FSD version, although regulatory hurdles and permit requirements—particularly in California—may delay fully autonomous operations. Tesla’s current permit only allows testing with a safety driver present. This move follows similar strategies by competitors like Waymo, who conduct internal trials before public launches.