Tesla is taking steps to bring its robotaxi service to life, with the electric vehicle manufacturer reportedly evaluating multiple cities in Texas to host the testing of its autonomous transportation system. According to emails obtained by Bloomberg News, Austin is one of the cities in the running, with a Tesla employee having been in touch with local officials since May.

The employee, who recently held an event in December to train first responders on how to work with Tesla's autonomous vehicle technology, indicated that Austin is a strong contender but not yet confirmed as the primary testing location. This approach is consistent with Tesla's business strategy, which often involves pitting multiple cities and states against each other to secure the best deal. This tactic was previously employed during the selection process for the company's original Gigafactory, and reportedly inspired Jeff Bezos to adopt a similar approach when locating Amazon's second headquarters.

Notably, Tesla is not currently testing any vehicles on public streets, which may be attributed to the company's ongoing development of its autonomous vehicle technology. Despite unveiling a "Cybercab" prototype in October, Tesla has yet to deliver on CEO Elon Musk's long-standing promises of creating a fully self-driving Tesla, let alone a robotaxi service. The company's cautious approach to deploying its autonomous technology on public roads may be a response to the growing scrutiny of the industry, following high-profile accidents and regulatory setbacks.

The potential deployment of Tesla's robotaxi service in Austin or other Texas cities raises interesting questions about the future of transportation and urban planning. As autonomous vehicles become increasingly prevalent, cities will need to adapt their infrastructure and regulations to accommodate these new technologies. The testing of Tesla's robotaxi service could provide valuable insights into the opportunities and challenges posed by autonomous transportation, and may serve as a model for other cities looking to integrate these technologies into their transportation networks.

While Tesla's plans for its robotaxi service remain in development, the company's exploration of Texas cities as potential testing locations marks an important step towards bringing this vision to life. As the autonomous vehicle industry continues to evolve, it will be important to monitor Tesla's progress and the implications of its technology for the future of transportation.