Tesla shares robotaxi details as early access invitations sent out

Tesla has officially begun inviting select users to preview its upcoming Robotaxi service in Austin, Texas. The Early Access program, which starts on Sunday, June 22, 2025, is available by invitation only, with the invitations sharing new details about how the program will initially operate.

According to the invitations, which have been widely shared on social media, participants in the Early Access program will use a dedicated Robotaxi App to hail rides within a defined geofenced area in Austin. Rides can be requested to and from any location within the area.

Airport pickups and drop-offs are not allowed, and Tesla notes that availability may be affected by weather conditions. The service will be available daily from 6:00 AM to midnight.

Although the service is billed as fully autonomous, each vehicle will still include a Tesla Safety Monitor riding in the front passenger seat for added oversight. Invitees may bring one adult guest with them on each trip, but the primary rider—the invitation holder—must be present. Third-party bookings or ride-hailing on behalf of others is not permitted.

To participate, users must agree to a number of terms and conditions, including Tesla’s Robotaxi Rider Privacy Notice, service policies, and in-app behavior expectations. Tesla encourages riders to share photos and videos of their experience, but reserves the right to remove anyone who violates rules or exhibits unsafe behaviour.

An interesting detail from the fine print reveals that while Tesla’s cabin camera is generally inactive during rides, it can be activated in cases where a user requests support or if operator intervention becomes necessary during an emergency.

Looks like the @Tesla Robotaxi service will start this Sunday and invites to be early access users are going out! They are encouraging photos and video so I’m looking forward to being able to share how it works and what it’s like!
Congrats to the @Tesla_AI team and everyone who… pic.twitter.com/BUWKlTytng
— Joe Tegtmeyer (@JoeTegtmeyer) June 20, 2025

While Tesla is encouraging participants to share photos and videos from their rides, the inclusion of a Safety Monitor in the front passenger seat suggests the company is still treating this as a supervised pilot rather than a fully hands-off service. The ability to document the experience may help generate public interest, but it also serves as an opportunity for Tesla to gather broader feedback during this tightly controlled phase.

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