Tesla has massively expanded the service area of its Robotaxi pilot in Austin, Texas, growing its geofence to approximately 171 square miles.
This marks the third geofence expansion in Austin since Tesla launched its Robotaxi program there just over two months ago. The autonomous ride-hailing service originally started with an 18-square-mile area in June. Since then, Tesla has multiplied the coverage area nearly tenfold. The latest update also does away with the geofence’s now-infamous phallic shape, replacing it with a much broader service footprint across Austin.
Earlier this month, Tesla officially secured a rideshare license in Texas, giving it regulatory approval to operate its Robotaxi fleet under the state’s new autonomous rideshare laws, which take effect September 1. With this expansion, Tesla is laying the groundwork for its driverless service to open to the general public in Austin next month…