As June starts, people across the country are watching for Tesla’s robotaxi launch in Austin, Texas. Elon Musk, the CEO, has repeatedly emphasized that this launch is crucial for the company’s future. After a rough beginning to 2025, Tesla is hoping that its autonomous fleet will help the company recover. Musk has put his work with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) on hold to concentrate on Tesla and SpaceX.
A recent study, however, indicates that the public’s views might not match Musk’s ideas. The May 2025 Electric Vehicle Intelligence Report (EVIR) reveals that many people are still doubtful about self-driving technology, especially Tesla’s version. While Waymo has introduced autonomous vehicles in several U.S. cities, Tesla’s announcement about robotaxis has caused more worry than enthusiasm.
The EVIR points out that trust and brand positivity for Tesla are decreasing, while Lucid and Rivian are making progress. Robotaxis are more appealing to younger, urban, and wealthy people, but the general public is still cautious. If Tesla’s adoption is slower than expected, this gap could slow down the company’s growth.
Wall Street is feeling uncertain. Analyst Alexander Pots of Piper Sandler expressed doubts about the maturity of Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) software for a wide rollout. Although Musk claims Tesla’s FSD system has driven three times as many miles in the past year, industry experts are still advising people to be careful.
According to Evan Roth Smith, head of research at EVIR, Tesla is in a tough position. Although the robotaxi project highlights Tesla’s creativity, it could harm the brand if it does not meet the expectations of the public and regulators. As the launch draws closer, everyone is watching Musk to see if the robotaxi launch will be a success or a failure.
