Tesla has expanded its unmanned robotaxi service in Austin, Texas, to the entire city area. Previously, the service was only available in selected districts. The expansion occurs even though Elon Musk originally promised that robotaxis would cover at least 50% of the US population by the end of 2025—a goal that has been significantly missed.
Background and Current Developments
Tesla has gradually expanded its fleet of unsupervised robotaxis in Austin over the past few months. The service is initially accessible to selected Tesla employees and early testers. A public launch is announced for the end of 2025, but experts doubt this timeline will be met.
Comparison: Robotaxi in Austin vs. Europe
Reactions and Outlook
The expansion is positively received by the Tesla community, but critics point to the low number of vehicles and lack of transparency. Elon Musk tweeted: "Austin Robotaxis expanding faster than expected." Although the service is still in its infancy, it is an important step towards a fully autonomous ride-hailing network.