First Model Y robotaxi rides come on exclusive hailing app as Tesla pledges cabin camera will be off

The Tesla Robotaxi ride-share platform will come with a dedicated hailing app that will list all the US dollar charges, including airport and potential vehicle cleaning fees.

Tesla has started sending out invitations to assorted media personalities and automotive industry influencers to participate in the grand Robotaxi platform launch in Austin on Sunday, June 22.

The Early Access testing phase is currently invite-only, and the Model Y robotaxis will run in a geofenced area from 6 AM to midnight. The invitees can't go to the airport, at least at first, even though Tesla stipulates that "charges for rides are shown in the Robotaxi app in U.S. dollars, and may include applicable tolls, airport fees, regulatory charges, and similar costs in connection with the ride."

Tesla is apparently leaving nothing to chance when it comes to the safety and privacy of its newly minted Robotaxi ride-share platform. It will, for example, have a "Tesla Safety Monitor," or an employee with allegedly a brake pedal and emergency stop buttons of the type seen in the leaked Model Y robotaxi interface.

The EV maker also reserves the right to pause the Robotaxi service in bad weather, and promises that the cabin camera will be turned off for the duration of the ride, unless the passengers call the platform's service center for assistance. The cabin mics won't be off, because they have to detect sirens when the Model Y needs to yield to emergency vehicles, but they won't transmit sound to Tesla unless the user has to speak with support or 911.

These safety and privacy measures might be the reason why Tesla is launching the Robotaxi service as an invite-only affair, with friendly automotive influencers of the type that took part in the Cybertruck launch events. Tesla encourages their feedback at all times and warns that for now they are the only ones that can download the Robotaxi app on iOS and Android.