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Tesla Moves to Block Austin from Releasing Robotaxi Records

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Tesla is attempting to stop the city of Austin, Texas, from disclosing public records to Reuters regarding its upcoming launch of self-driving robotaxis, expected to begin operating on Austin’s streets this month. The electric vehicle maker argues that releasing the documents would expose confidential business information and damage its competitive position.

Reuters submitted a public records request in February, seeking communications between Tesla and Austin officials over the prior two years. This request came after Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s January announcement that the company would soon introduce fare-collecting robotaxis in Austin.

In early April, Austin’s public-information officer Dan Davis informed Reuters that certain “third parties” had asked the city to withhold the requested records, citing privacy and proprietary concerns. The city then referred the matter to the Texas Attorney General’s office on April 7, as state law requires when disputes arise over the release of potentially confidential information.

On April 16, a Tesla attorney sent a letter to the Attorney General, objecting to the release of what it described as “confidential, proprietary, competitively sensitive commercial, and/or trade secret information.” Tesla argued that public disclosure of these communications would expose its deployment procedures, strategy, and operational status, potentially causing the company “irreparable harm.”

Tesla and the Texas Attorney General’s office have declined to comment further. Austin city officials emphasized that they take no stance on whether the materials qualify as proprietary, but are obligated by law to seek the Attorney General’s judgment when a third party claims confidentiality.

Musk has made self-driving technology central to Tesla’s future growth. While the company has repeatedly delayed full autonomy, the robotaxi launch in Austin is being closely monitored by investors and regulators as a potential breakthrough moment. Many analysts believe Tesla’s high market valuation depends largely on the commercial success of its robotaxis and humanoid robots.

Details of Tesla’s Austin robotaxi program remain limited. The company has only revealed plans to initially deploy between 10 and 20 autonomous vehicles in certain, undisclosed areas of Austin.

In response to Tesla’s objections, a Reuters attorney argued on April 23 that the public has a right to transparency, especially when Tesla plans to operate untested autonomous vehicles on public roads. “Tesla’s deployment of the unproven technology on Texas roadways makes its plans an issue of enormous importance to Texas and the public at large,” the attorney wrote.

The Texas Attorney General’s office is expected to issue a ruling within 45 business days, a deadline that arrives next week.

Trump-Musk Feud Triggers $150 Billion Wipeout in Tesla Market Value

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Tesla shares plummeted 14% on Thursday, erasing $150 billion in market value, as a public feud between U.S. President Donald Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk rattled investors. The stock selloff occurred despite no major company-specific news, as traders reacted to escalating tensions between the two high-profile figures.

The dispute began when Trump criticized Musk’s opposition to his administration’s tax bill, which includes provisions that would eliminate federal subsidies for electric vehicle (EV) purchases. Musk responded by attacking Trump’s policies on social media, further intensifying the confrontation. Trump later escalated his rhetoric, suggesting that terminating government subsidies and contracts with Musk’s companies could save the federal government billions of dollars.

The spat poses multiple risks for Tesla, especially as it tries to navigate a shifting regulatory landscape. The U.S. Transportation Department, which regulates vehicle safety standards, could become an obstacle to Musk’s ambitions of mass-producing autonomous robotaxis — a cornerstone of Tesla’s future growth strategy. The department is also investigating Tesla’s Full Self-Driving system following a fatal crash.

“Elon’s politics continue to harm the stock,” said Dennis Dick, chief strategist at Stock Trader Network. “First he aligned with Trump, upsetting Democratic buyers. Now he’s alienated the Trump administration.” Analysts warn that political fallout could also influence regulatory decisions that disproportionately affect Tesla, particularly if regulators mandate technologies like lidar, which Tesla currently avoids in favor of camera-based systems.

The market rout has also dented Musk’s personal wealth. Following Thursday’s selloff, his net worth fell by roughly $27 billion to $388 billion, according to Forbes.

Investors are increasingly concerned about Tesla’s exposure to political headwinds as well as its heavy reliance on government incentives. Trump’s budget proposal includes ending the popular $7,500 EV subsidy by late 2025, which could slash Tesla’s annual profit by $1.2 billion and hit regulatory credit sales by an additional $2 billion, according to J.P. Morgan estimates.

Despite these risks, Tesla remains the most valuable automaker globally with a market capitalization of around $1 trillion — more than triple that of Toyota. However, some investors question the stock’s lofty valuation, which trades at 150 times profit estimates. “I am short Tesla. I don’t understand its valuation or fundamentals. I think it’s overhyped,” said Bob Doll, chief investment officer at Crossmark Global Investments.

Tesla’s stock has been highly volatile since Musk endorsed Trump’s reelection bid in mid-2024. After an initial 169% surge, shares have since fallen 54% amid protests and weakening sales in major markets including Europe, China, and key U.S. states like California.

While Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has already moved to ease some autonomous vehicle safety regulations, experts caution that federal regulators could still shape rules in ways that disadvantage Tesla. “With President Trump, being on his bad side always creates risk,” said Morningstar analyst Seth Goldstein, though he noted that broader industry pressure may limit targeted retaliation.

Ultimately, analysts suggest the political drama could overshadow Tesla’s ambitious AI and autonomous driving plans, which Wedbush previously valued at up to $1 trillion in potential market capitalization.

Tesla to Launch Robotaxi Trial in Austin by End of June, Says Elon Musk

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Tesla is preparing to begin its much-anticipated robotaxi pilot program in Austin, Texas, by the end of June, CEO Elon Musk confirmed in an interview with CNBC. The trial marks a significant milestone for the electric carmaker’s shift toward autonomous driving and AI-driven products.

Initially, Tesla plans to deploy about 10 self-driving vehicles in select “safest” parts of Austin, with the goal of scaling up to approximately 1,000 cars over the following months. The launch comes at a critical time for Tesla, as global sales have slowed amid growing EV competition and mounting scrutiny of Musk’s political affiliations and side ventures.

Musk emphasized that Tesla’s long-term future hinges on autonomy and its humanoid robot project, Optimus. “The only things that matter in the long term are autonomy and Optimus,” he stated, underlining the strategic pivot away from building a low-cost EV platform.

The robotaxi launch will face close examination from the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which is currently investigating incidents involving Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) software, particularly in low-visibility conditions. The regulator recently asked Tesla to detail how its robotaxis will operate in adverse weather.

Meanwhile, Musk revealed that Tesla is in licensing discussions with major automakers interested in using its FSD software — a potential revenue stream that could help commercialize the robotaxi platform faster.

Beyond Tesla, Musk’s AI startup xAI is also making headlines. The company is expanding a massive supercomputer cluster named “Colossus” in Memphis, Tennessee, which will feature one million of Nvidia’s Blackwell chips — part of a broader plan to train advanced AI models. xAI recently acquired a 1-million-square-foot property in Memphis to support the buildout.

While a merger between Tesla and xAI is not currently planned, Musk did not rule it out entirely, stating it would require shareholder approval if it were to move forward.