The June 22 launch of Tesla's robotaxis in Austin, Texas, actually occurred. It's a tentative first step for the company, however: a human "Tesla Safety Monitor" is accompanying the first riders. There are also only ten cars and rides are limited to certain Tesla users.

Tesla Inc. rolled out its long-awaited robotaxi service to a handful of users following almost a decade of hype from Elon Musk, kicking off a precarious new era for the carmaker. Some online influencers were invited to take a ride.

The service kicked off as scheduled aboard Tesla's Model Y vehicles, with customers paying a $4.20 flat fee to ride.