For now, Austin serves as Tesla’s proving ground. The tech is raw, the rollout is cautious, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. If the robotaxi experiment succeeds here, the future Musk has long promised might finally arrive. If not, it’s another high-profile beta test in a long road filled with big promises—and sharp turns.

While no one was in the driver's seat of the Tesla robotaxis, a front-seat rider acted as a "safety monitor" during the trial.

Tesla launched its robotaxi service in Austin on Sunday as its Model Y vehicles drove around a select batch of riders who gave rave reviews about smooth, convenient rides that were available for the cheap price of $4.20 .