When Elon Musk announced in 2019 that Tesla would have a fleet of one million autonomous robotaxis on the road by 2020, many were skeptical. Five years later, the reality has diverged wildly from that vision. Now, with Tesla reportedly preparing to unveil its long-awaited robotaxi on August 8, 2025, concerns are mounting that the rollout may be far more chaotic—and dangerous—than revolutionary.

Overpromising, Underdelivering

Elon Musk has a long history of making bold claims that stretch the limits of feasibility. From the “full self-driving” (FSD) feature that remains in beta after nearly a decade, to promises of a Cybertruck that can “serve briefly as a boat,” hyperbole has become part of the Tesla brand. But with robotaxis, the stakes are different. This isn’t about flashy features—it’s about public safety, liability, and trust in autonomous technology.

Despite years of development, Tesla’s FSD software is still classified as Level 2 autonomy—meaning it requires active driver supervision. That is far from the Level 4 or Level 5 autonomy needed for a true robotaxi service. Releasing such vehicles into the public domain before reaching those levels risks turning public streets into test tracks, with real people as the collateral.

Safety Concerns

There have been dozens of reported incidents involving Tesla’s driver assistance systems, some fatal. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has investigated several crashes involving Autopilot and FSD. Critics argue that Tesla’s approach—using customers as testers—bypasses traditional regulatory safeguards in favor of rapid iteration.

By contrast, other companies like Waymo and Cruise have taken slower, more cautious paths. They have undergone extensive third-party testing, geofencing their operations and working closely with local authorities. Tesla, in typical fashion, appears to be charting its own course—one that might lead straight into regulatory backlash or worse, public tragedy.

Regulatory and Ethical Minefields

Tesla’s robotaxi ambitions also run into a thicket of legal and ethical challenges. What happens when a Tesla robotaxi is involved in a fatal accident? Who’s responsible—the passenger, the company, or the AI? What insurance frameworks are in place? These questions remain largely unanswered, even as the rollout looms.

Furthermore, Musk’s open disdain for regulatory agencies, including California’s Department of Motor Vehicles and the NHTSA, raises alarms. Tesla recently moved its engineering headquarters to Texas, where autonomous vehicle regulations are looser. Critics worry that this was a strategic decision to skirt oversight, placing innovation above accountability.

A PR Stunt or a Step Forward?

There’s speculation that the August 8 reveal will be more marketing hype than meaningful progress—a shiny prototype or an “announcement of an announcement.” That wouldn’t be unprecedented for Musk. But even if a working robotaxi is unveiled, questions remain about scalability, safety validation, infrastructure, and public acceptance.

Tesla may eventually crack the robotaxi puzzle—but rushing toward that goal with unproven tech and vague timelines is a recipe for disaster. As history has shown, innovation without caution can do more harm than good.

The world will be watching on August 8. Let’s hope, for everyone’s sake, that what rolls out isn’t a disaster in the making.