Headlight News for the Week of 6-23-25 includes: Trump Iran Attack and Gas Prices; New Corvette Hypercar; Tesla Launches Robotaxi; and more.
Autonomous Vehicles
Tesla Rolls Out First Robotaxis, Select Riders Paying Flat $4.20 Fee Per ride
Tesla’s first robotaxis took to the streets of Austin, Texas on Sunday, the start-up ride-sharing service picking up invite-only riders for a flat $4.20 a trip. The move was hailed by Tesla bulls who see the move as the first step in what could become an even bigger business than the company’s EV operations. But it’s yet to be seen if Tesla can stand up against competitors like Waymo and Uber — or whether the backlash facing Tesla EVs will cripple the robotaxi service, as well. More from Headlight.News.
Tesla Pausing Cybertruck, Model Y Production; May Delay Robotaxi Launch
Production of the Tesla Cybertruck, as well as the newly updated Model Y, will be paused later this month. The temporary move comes at a time when both products are struggling due to slow demand. Separately, Tesla is facing pressure to delay the launch of the long-awaited Robotaxi tentatively scheduled to also roll out of its Austin, Texas plant this coming weekend. More from Headlight.News.
Musk Sets “Tentative” Date for Robotaxi Launch
The first Tesla robotaxi is “tentatively” set to roll out on June 22, according to CEO Elon Musk, though that date could be pushed back, he indicated in a tweet because he is being “super paranoid about safety.” With Tesla’s EV sales sliding fast in many key markets, analysts and investors believe fully self-driving vehicles will be critical to the brand’s future. More from Headlight.News.
The Pace of New Vehicle Development “Has Slowed to a Crawl” – Bad News for Buyers
The number of all-new models coming to market over the next four years is predicted to drop sharply as manufacturers around the world cut back on investments. That will be particularly obvious in the EV market as the industry shifts back to internal combustion, according to the latest annual “Car Wars” study.
Musk Meltdown: Sex, Drugs and Mismanagement
A series of new headlines reveal how Tesla CEO Elon Musk made extensive use of drugs while working as head of the Dept. Of Government Efficiency. But his use of ketamine and other controlled substances began long before Musk began working for Pres. Donald Trump. And it has contributed to what many observers have seen as erratic personal behavior and corporate mismanagement. Headlight.News has more.
Musk Says Driverless Tesla Model Y Deliveries Begin in June
Tesla CEO Elon Musk has been promising a self-driving vehicle for years — and missed those targets for years. However, the time has arrived for him to make good on his word, he says, and the first set of driverless Teslas will be delivered in June. Get details in Headlight.News.
Tesla Shares Soar as Musk Pledges to be “Super Focused” on the Company – But Sales Continue to Plunge
If you’re a Tesla shareholder you’re likely quite pleased to hear CEO Elon Musk promise to back away from his work in Washington to become “super-focused” on the automaker and his other companies. If you’re a buyer looking for an EV, however, that may not matter much, Tesla sales continuing to tumble in markets as diverse as Europe, China and the U.S. Headlight.News has more.
Tesla v Waymo? Get Set for the Dual of the Driverless Robotaxis
Tesla and Waymo are about to square off in a duel, which could decide the fate of automated vehicles in the U.S. Billions of dollars in revenue and profits are at stake as the two companies prepare to compete in cities around the country.
Musk Promises to Stay in Tesla Role for 5 Years, Cutting Back on Politics
Elon Musk is cutting back on political activity as Tesla pushes into autonomous vehicles, announcing plans to stay with the automaker as CEO for the next five years. Musk also said autonomy is the key to Tesla’s future, with its new CyberCab ready to roll next month.
NHTSA Orders Recall on Waymo Vehicles, Asks Tesla for Information
Waymo is recalling more than 1,000 vehicles under pressure from NHTSA after a rash of minor accidents involving the company’s self-driving vehicles, even as it asks for more information about Tesla’s robotaxi plans. Get the story at Headlight.News.
Toyota Teaming Up With Waymo on Autonomous Vehicles
Waymo and Toyota are teaming up. The Japanese giant will help develop a new autonomous vehicle platform for the Google spin-off which has become the U.S. leader in driverless ride-sharing technology. The announcement comes days after VW and Uber revealed their own autonomous alliance. More from Headlight.News.