Tesla's $4.20 Robotaxi Service Debuts in Austin

- South Austin launch June 22, 2025, with 10 Model Y vehicles - Flat fee per ride: $4.20 According to Teslarati on June 22, 2025, Tesla's Robotaxi service launched in South Austin. The service, initially using a fleet of approximately 10 Model Y vehicles equipped with Tesla's camera-only Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology, charges a flat fee of $4.20 per ride, an amount previously announced by Elon Musk. Teslarati also reported on June 22 that the initial rollout includes a "safety monitor" in the front passenger seat, despite Tesla describing its technology as "unsupervised" autonomy. Select Early Access Program members can access this service through the Tesla app; it operates daily from 6:00 a.m. to midnight, pausing during inclement weather. The deployment area covers a geofenced portion of south-central Austin. Although the vehicles operate driverlessly, Tesla has not specified the safety monitor's exact role or control capacity. Furthermore, the rollout uses specially marked Model Y cars, differing from Tesla's previously revealed Cybercabs. Tesla’s approach to autonomous driving, which solely uses cameras and artificial intelligence, contrasts with competitors like Waymo that employ LiDAR and other sensors. Moreover, as part of its autonomous vehicle strategy, Tesla aims to gather real-world data from these operations. The launch has sparked discussions around safety and regulatory concerns, with some Texas lawmakers urging Tesla to delay the service until new state laws for autonomous vehicles take effect on September 1. In addition, reports suggest Tesla faces scrutiny regarding transparency, including allegations that the company attempted to block public records requests. Regarding in-vehicle privacy, Teslarati reported on June 22 that in-cabin cameras are off by default during rides, activating only in emergencies or upon request for support. On June 23, 2025, CoinMarketCap reported that Ethereum (ETH) was trading at $2,700 as of 12:00 UTC, and the currency's 24-hour trading volume had decreased by 1.5%.