A group of Democratic legislators in Texas is urging Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) to delay the introduction of its robotaxi service in Austin, requesting that the company wait until new autonomous vehicle regulations are in place this September.
In a letter sent on Wednesday, the lawmakers asked Tesla to postpone the unveiling—initially set for this Sunday by CEO Elon Musk—to align with the updated legal framework governing self-driving vehicles.
The legislators stressed that delaying the launch would demonstrate a commitment to public safety and help build public confidence in Tesla’s autonomous technology. According to the letter, waiting until the new rules take effect would ensure that the deployment happens under a more clearly defined and enforceable regulatory structure, which they say is in the best interest of both the community and the industry at large.