Tesla is once again expanding the service area for its Robotaxi service, marking the second such expansion in a single week. The autonomous ride-hailing service, which initially launched in June, was made available to a limited number of users within a small geofenced area in South Austin.
The company has been aggressively growing its Robotaxi coverage. Following the initial launch, the coverage area was quickly expanded. Days later, Tesla also introduced a new, though less autonomous, ride-hailing service in the San Francisco Bay Area.
A Growing Presence in Austin’s Autonomous Market
The most recent expansion in Austin has grown the geofenced area to an estimated 80 square miles. This rapid growth puts Tesla’s service area nearly on par with Waymo’s autonomous taxi coverage in the same city.
Compared to other autonomous ride-hailing services, such as Waymo—which has been operating for a decade and expanded at a much slower pace—Tesla’s rapid expansion suggests significant confidence in its Robotaxis. These are currently comprised of standard Tesla Model Y vehicles. Tesla CEO Elon Musk has publicly stated an ambitious goal to offer Robotaxis to “half the population of the U.S.” by the end of 2025…