Sources: 
Tesla is preparing to launch its self-driving robotaxi fleet in Austin, Texas, on June 12, a milestone event that CEO Elon Musk has tied closely to the company's future growth.
This debut comes amid significant leadership changes, as Milan Kovac, Tesla's vice president of engineering for the Optimus project, announced his departure on June 6. Kovac, who joined Tesla in 2016 and rose through the ranks from a staff software engineer in the Autopilot division to VP of Optimus, has been instrumental in developing Tesla's autonomous driving and humanoid robotics technologies.
"I want to make it clear that this is the only reason, and has absolutely nothing to do with anything else," Kovac stated regarding his decision to step down, citing a desire to spend more time with his family abroad while reaffirming his support for Tesla and Musk.
His exit comes at a critical juncture as Tesla prepares to deliver on Musk's promise of a self-driving robotaxi service, a key component of the company's growth strategy.
Ashok Elluswamy, currently vice president of the Autopilot and software team, is reportedly set to replace Kovac, signaling continuity in leadership for Tesla's autonomous vehicle efforts.
"On June 12, Tesla plans to roll out its fleet of self-driving robotaxis in Austin, Texas, delivering on something Musk has promised Tesla's investors and loyalists for some time," highlighting the high stakes of this launch.
The transition in leadership and the upcoming robotaxi debut underscore Tesla's commitment to advancing its self-driving technology despite internal changes, with the company betting heavily on Optimus and Autopilot to drive future success.
Sources: Tesla is set to debut its self-driving robotaxis in Austin on June 12, amid leadership changes. Milan Kovac, key to Tesla's Autopilot and Optimus projects, is stepping down as VP of engineering. Ashok Elluswamy will take over as Tesla pushes forward with its autonomous vehicle ambitions.
