People in Austin, Texas, are not happy about Tesla’s plan to launch a robotaxi service in their city. The company wants to start on June 22, but locals are protesting due to safety concerns and political disagreements.
Groups like the Dawn Project, Tesla Takedown, and Resist Austin are organizing protests. They cite safety problems with Tesla’s autonomous driving systems. The Dawn Project even brought a Tesla Model Y with the company’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) software to a protest. The car failed to stop for a stopped school bus and hit a child mannequin in a demonstration.
Protests Against Tesla
Elon Musk’s involvement with the Trump administration and his work on the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has also sparked opposition. Dan O’Dowd, CEO of the Dawn Project, has been warning Tesla about safety issues for 2.5 years. He tweeted about the failed test, saying “Why isn’t somebody in jail?”
In 8 consecutive tests $TSLA Full Self-Driving 13.2.9 ran down child mannequins crossing the road while illegally blowing past a stopped school bus during our live FSD demo in Austin.
We’ve warned Tesla for 2.5 years. They’ve done nothing. Why isn’t somebody in jail? pic.twitter.com/56i06dAUod
— Dan O’Dowd (@RealDanODowd) June 13, 2025
Tesla’s Robotaxi Plans
It’s unclear how Tesla will respond to these protests. The company has faced several cases of FSD software failures in the past, resulting in accidents. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has collected data on these incidents. O’Dowd’s company sells safety solutions to car manufacturers like Ford and Toyota, which has raised questions about his motives.
Despite the opposition, Elon Musk recently demonstrated the new FSD software on social media. The company’s decision to launch a robotaxi service in Austin remains uncertain. Musk’s involvement with the Trump administration has sparked public backlash, affecting Tesla’s sales. The company is now offering its Cybertruck with 0% annual interest to boost sales.