Tesla intends to launch its robotaxi service for public use in Austin within the upcoming month.
Tesla's Robotaxi Service Expands in Austin, Texas
Tesla's robotaxi service, which initially launched in a limited capacity in June 2025, has been gradually expanding in Austin, Texas. The service, which operates exclusively with Tesla's latest Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology, started with a limited geofence area of around 20 square miles. Over the following weeks, Tesla expanded the service area significantly, reaching about 80 square miles by early August 2025.
Initially, the service was available only to a select group of early users, including influencers and Tesla content creators. A safety driver was present in the car during rides. In August 2025, Tesla received a state permit allowing ride-hailing operations in Texas, but full regulatory approval to operate fully autonomous, driverless vehicles requires additional approval from the Texas DMV.
Elon Musk, Tesla's CEO, announced the open access of the Austin robotaxi service on a social media platform, suggesting that the company has a high degree of confidence in the safety and performance of its driverless technology. The public expansion of the service will provide thousands of Americans their first opportunity to experience a fully driverless ride in a Tesla.
Tesla plans to increase its robotaxi fleet in Austin to meet the anticipated demand once the service becomes widely available. The public rollout could pave the way for Tesla to expand its driverless technology to other cities in the United States, subject to regulatory approvals.
The upcoming release of FSD version 14, expected in roughly six weeks, is anticipated to bring significant improvements to Tesla's self-driving capabilities. The robotaxi service will act as a large-scale real-world test for FSD 14.
Despite not yet securing the required driverless deployment permits in California's Bay Area, Tesla runs a similar ride-hailing service there, but it does not operate as a robotaxi service due to state regulations. The Safety Operator remains in the front passenger seat of the Tesla robotaxi, even though it operates without a human driver.
The current robotaxi fleet in Austin consists of between 10-20 Model Y vehicles. Recent job postings indicate Tesla is planning an aggressive expansion of its robotaxi service across the U.S. before the end of the year. If the public rollout in Austin proves successful, Tesla may expand its robotaxi operations to other U.S. cities.
In summary, Tesla's robotaxi service was not widely available to the public in September 2023. The launch occurred in 2025, with gradual expansion and regulatory approvals in progress. Public, open-access availability started to emerge in mid to late 2025, with broader nationwide availability and full autonomy expected around 2026.
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