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6h ago

Tesla to Double Austin Robotaxi Fleet in December, Musk Says

The service remains supervised with in-car safety monitors, highlighting unresolved regulatory questions.

A Tesla robotaxi drives on the street along South Congress Avenue in Austin, Texas, U.S., June 22, 2025. REUTERS/Joel Angel Juarez
A Tesla robotaxi, left, and a Waymo autonomous vehicle ply a residential street in Austin in July. Unlike its biggest automated vehicle competitor, Tesla has redacted the narratives in the reports of its seven robotaxi incidents in Austin so far this year.
Tesla secured a permit that allows the company to operate a ridehailing service with autonomous vehicles in Texas.

Overview

  • Elon Musk said on X that Tesla’s Austin robotaxi fleet should "roughly double" next month following complaints about long waits and limited availability.
  • Tesla has not disclosed vehicle counts; community trackers estimate about 30 active cars in Austin, and rides continue with a safety monitor in the front seat.
  • Tesla filed seven Austin incident reports with NHTSA this year but redacted the narratives, and the agency says it must withhold information companies designate confidential.
  • Recent Texas rules and Tesla’s operating practices leave the pilot effectively at SAE Level 2 with significant teleoperation support, short of the driverless target Musk has touted.
  • Tesla recently secured a permit to offer ride-hailing in Arizona as it seeks wider expansion, while competitor Waymo operates larger fully driverless fleets in several cities.