Texas lawmakers urge delay of Tesla robotaxi launch Tech billioniare Elon Musk's plan to launch Tesla's robotaxi service in Austin this month has hit the political resistance hurdle. A group of Democratic lawmakers from Austin has urged Elon Musk to delay the launch of Tesla’s driverless “robotaxis” in Texas until September, when new regulations governing autonomous vehicles take effect. Story continues below Advertisement Remove Ad In a letter, seven state legislators requested that Tesla hold off on deploying the vehicles set to begin limited testing with paying customers in Austin on Sunday until the new law mandating safety checks for driverless operations is in force. "We are formally requesting that Tesla delay autonomous robotaxi operations until the new law takes effect on September 1, 2025," the letter from Wednesday, June 18, reads. "We believe this is in the best interest of both public safety and building public trust in Tesla's operations." It remains uncertain whether the letter will influence Tesla’s plans, as Republicans have maintained control of the Texas Legislature for over two decades. Governor Greg Abbott and other state leaders have largely supported Elon Musk, welcoming the economic boost and employment opportunities brought by his ventures including the Tesla Gigafactory in Austin and SpaceX operations along the coast. The letter asked Tesla to assure the legislators it has met all the requirements of the law even if it decides to go ahead with the test run this weekend. Moneycontrol World Desk