Tesla has begun offering robotaxi rides to the public in Austin, Texas, without a human safety driver present in the vehicle. [18, 19] The launch, announced by CEO Elon Musk, marks a significant advancement from the company's previous trials in the city which began in June 2025 with human monitors in the front passenger seat. [3, 14]
The initial rollout will see a few unsupervised vehicles integrated into the existing Austin fleet of 42 robotaxis, with the company planning to gradually increase the ratio of fully driverless cars over time. [12, 19] This move is a critical step in realizing a long-held vision for Tesla, which views autonomous ride-hailing as a key future business. [9]