Elon Musk has indicated a provisional launch date of June 22nd for Tesla's robotaxi service in Austin, Texas.

Musk stated on X, his social media platform, that the date was subject to change, citing Tesla's "extreme vigilance regarding safety" as the reason.

Investors, Wall Street analysts, and Tesla fans have been eagerly awaiting the launch of Tesla's self-driving taxi service since Musk stated earlier this year that it would begin in Austin sometime in June.

In a recent CNBC interview, Musk explained his initial plan for the robotaxis, stating that they would first be watched remotely and limited to specific safe areas of the city. He mentioned starting with about ten vehicles, then quickly increasing the number, and eventually launching the service in large cities like Los Angeles, San Antonio, and San Francisco.

For ten years, Musk has consistently promised that fully self-driving cars would be available "next year." However, the pressure is now significantly greater because Tesla has started its self-driving taxi service. This comes at a time when sales of Tesla's electric vehicles have decreased. This decline is due to more competition, the re-design of its popular Model Y car, and the negative effects of Musk's growing involvement in politics.

The Austin launch is also happening after a public disagreement between Musk and then-President Trump about the government's tax law. This has led some analysts to worry that Trump might get back at Musk by encouraging federal safety regulators to intervene if there are any problems with the robotaxis.