Public safety advocates and political activists are voicing strong opposition as Tesla prepares to launch its pilot robotaxi service in Austin, Texas, on June 22.
The planned rollout of the autonomous ride-hailing service, championed by Tesla CEO Elon Musk, has sparked demonstrations and heightened scrutiny of the company’s self-driving technology.
Demonstrators gathered in downtown Austin, raising alarms about the safety of Tesla’s autonomous systems and expressing unease over Musk’s affiliations with former President Donald Trump’s administration.
Groups including the Dawn Project, Tesla Takedown, and Resist Austin are leading the resistance, contending that Tesla’s Full Self-Driving technology is not yet safe for widespread use on public roads. Tesla vehicles in the U.S. are typically equipped with either a standard Autopilot system or an advanced FSD Supervised option, both of which enable features like automatic lane keeping, steering, and parking.
However, data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reveals that Tesla vehicles using these features have been linked to hundreds of crashes, with dozens resulting in fatalities. These statistics have intensified calls for increased oversight before the technology sees broader deployment.
Recently, Musk posted a video on X (formerly Twitter), revealing Tesla’s upcoming robotaxi prototypes.
The vehicles, modified versions of the Model Y, are fitted with an unreleased version of the company’s Full Self-Driving software. This next iteration, dubbed “unsupervised,” aims to allow full autonomy without driver involvement.
In anticipation of the launch, tech safety organization The Dawn Project staged a public demonstration in Austin to highlight what it sees as severe deficiencies in Tesla’s autonomous capabilities. Using a Model Y running FSD version 13.2.9, the group simulated a real-world hazard by placing a child-sized mannequin in the vehicle’s path. The Tesla reportedly failed to stop, ignoring a school bus with an extended stop sign and striking the mannequin.
The group argues the results of the test illustrate critical dangers. Dan O’Dowd, CEO of The Dawn Project and head of Green Hills Software—which provides technology to Tesla competitors like Ford and Toyota—led the demonstration and condemned Tesla’s FSD system.
Among the demonstrators was Stephanie Gomez, who voiced strong criticism of Musk’s growing influence in U.S. politics and the lack of public access to data on Tesla’s robotaxi technology. “She also criticized Tesla’s lack of transparency around its robotaxi technology and said she had no confidence in the company’s safety practices.”
While Musk’s political activities drew ire from some protesters, most emphasized that public safety is their primary concern. “Citizens have not been able to get safety testing results,” said demonstrator Silvia Revelis. “Musk believes he’s above the law.”
