Tesla Granted Access to Test Autonomous Vehicles in Austin Prior to Robotaxi Debut
In a significant development for the autonomous vehicle industry, Tesla has been officially approved by the city of Austin, Texas, to test its robotaxis [1][2]. This marks Tesla's first formal appearance as it prepares for the launch of its paid robotaxi service later this month.
The city's online registry, which tracks companies approved to test or deploy self-driving technology, includes Tesla alongside other notable operators such as Amazon's Zoox, AVRide, ADMT (a subsidiary of Volkswagen), and Waymo [4]. Tesla's listing on the registry suggests that its robotaxi debut could be imminent [5].
Tesla's test fleet in Austin will consist of Model Y SUVs, equipped with the Full Self-Driving (FSD) Unsupervised software tailored specifically for the city [6]. The company has been incorporating teleoperation to remotely monitor the vehicles during testing to ensure safety [7].
The city's official recognition of Tesla as an autonomous vehicle tester does not yet permit charging for rides; the program remains in the testing phase until 'deployment' approval [8]. However, Tesla announced that the Austin Robotaxi service area is expected to expand significantly, potentially covering the entire 300 square miles of the city within a couple of weeks, indicating rapid scaling beyond the initial launch zone [3].
The initial robotaxi launch in Austin took place on June 22, 2025, with a supervised, invite-only service featuring a limited fleet of Tesla Model Ys operating in a geofenced area around Austin [1][2]. Since then, Tesla has been actively mapping and validating streets in Austin with Robotaxis and Cybertrucks equipped with sensors to prepare for expansion.
It's worth noting that Waymo is the only company approved for full deployment of paid services in Austin [9]. Tesla's planned launch date is yet to be officially confirmed, but the company is preparing for a launch of its paid robotaxi service later this month.
As the autonomous vehicle industry continues to evolve, Tesla's foray into robotaxis in Austin, Texas, represents a significant step forward in the development and commercialisation of self-driving technology.
References: [1] Tesla begins testing robotaxis without safety drivers in Austin, Texas (May 2025) [2] Tesla's Austin Robotaxi service to launch on June 22, 2025 (June 2025) [3] Tesla announces significant expansion of Austin Robotaxi service area (July 2025) [4] City of Austin's online registry of approved AV operators (Accessed July 2025) [5] Tesla's robotaxi debut in Austin could be imminent (July 2025) [6] Tesla's Austin test fleet to consist of Model Ys with FSD Unsupervised software (June 2025) [7] Tesla incorporates teleoperation for safety during Austin robotaxi testing (May 2025) [8] Tesla's Austin Robotaxi program remains in the testing phase (June 2025) [9] Waymo approved for full deployment of paid services in Austin (June 2025)
Technology plays a crucial role in Tesla's first formal appearance as it prepares for the launch of its paid robotaxi service, with the Full Self-Driving (FSD) Unsupervised software being customized for the city of Austin. The city's registration of Tesla, alongside other autonomous vehicle operators, suggests the imminent debut of Tesla's robotaxi service, further showcasing the advancement of self-driving technology.
