Article in The Verge by Mack DeGeurin, 6/29/25

Headline: ” ‘We are the media now’: why Tesla’s robotaxis were dominated by Elon Musk superfans”

Subhead:  “Journalists from the newsroom weren’t allowed inside the robotaxis and were mocked for asking riders basic questions”

“Over the years, Tesla has built part of its reputation on hosting big, bold events to generate authentic hype for upcoming releases. The robotaxi launch in Austin, Texas, last week wasn’t one of them.

“Coverage of the rollout was dominated by a close-knit cohort of Tesla influencers and Elon Musk superfans, many of whom are openly supportive of the CEO’s vision. Journalists and tech bloggers who might have been more critical of the technology were not only excluded but also actively ridiculed and mocked by Tesla fans and some of their followers for attempting to ask basic questions about the service. . .”

Read the full article at:

https://www.theverge.com/tesla/694333/tesla-robotaxi-media-influencers-musk-fans