The company seeks to block the release of emails with city officials on the grounds they could contain confidential information and trade secrets.
Electric carmaker Tesla is trying to prevent the release of documents related to its planned robotaxi launch in Austin, Texas.
According to a Reuters report by Chris Kirkham, the company is asking the city not to release communications between Tesla and city officials from the last two years regarding the planned deployment of self-driving vehicles. “The request followed CEO Elon Musk’s announcement in January that Tesla would launch fare-collecting robotaxis on Austin public streets.”
In a letter to the state’s Attorney General, Tesla objected to the release on the grounds that the documents could contain “confidential, proprietary, competitively sensitive commercial, and/or trade secret information” that could "irreparably harm Tesla.” In response, Reuters wrote that the deployment plan is “an issue of enormous importance to Texas and the public at large” and that the public deserves information about it.
The robotaxi launch would be a milestone for Tesla, which has not yet delivered on its promise of fully self-driving vehicles. “Texas state law requires the Attorney General’s office to decide within 45 business days, which would be next week.”
FULL STORY: Tesla seeks to block city of Austin from releasing records on robotaxi trial
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