In ramping up robotaxi service, Tesla is hoping to slingshot past Waymo, another autonomous car service that operates in Phoenix, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Austin, according to its website. Last week, Waymo applied for a permit to test its vehicles in New York City.

Tesla shared its intention to launch its robotaxis in Austin on June 22, but several Texas lawmakers are asking the automaker to hold off until months from now. In a letter sent to Tesla's director of field reliability Eddie Gates,

Tesla has sent out invitations to a small group of people to join the limited test of its robotaxi service in Austin, Texas, which is tentatively set to start on Sunday, according to posts and email screenshots on social media.

A group of Democratic Texas lawmakers is asking Elon Musk to delay his rollout of driverless ‘robotaxis’ in the state this weekend to assure the vehicles are safe enough.

Seven Democratic lawmakers in Texas are pressing Tesla to hold off on deploying its fleet of autonomous robotaxis in Austin, just days ahead of the company’s anticipated launch. The appeal comes amid growing concern about public safety and regulatory readiness as driverless vehicles prepare to hit the roads.

Elon Musk is being asked to delay the planned rollout of driverless ‘robotaxis’ in the state this weekend, to assure that the vehicles are safe.