Tesla has asked the City of Austin to withhold records related to its upcoming robotaxi launch. The request comes after CEO Elon Musk announced plans for the electric vehicle maker to roll out robotaxi services in Austin this summer. Reuters requested two years of communications between Tesla and Austin officials concerning the launch, but officials have sought an opinion from the Texas attorney general’s office.
The city is considering withholding the records due to concerns over “privacy and property” interests. An attorney for Tesla has argued that releasing the records would disclose sensitive information about its deployment procedure, process, status, and strategy, potentially causing “irreparable harm” to the company.
Tesla has been testing its robotaxi, driverless Model Ys, in the Austin metro area, with testing reportedly ahead of schedule. The company aims to launch fully autonomous ride-hailing cabs in Austin by June 12. However, officials have not shared details on how the robotaxis will operate or the results of testing. A decision from the Texas attorney general’s office is expected this week.
Source: https://eu.statesman.com/story/business/technology/2025/06/10/tesla-asked-the-city-of-austin-to-withhold-records-related-to-robotaxi-launch/84128205007