Image: Tesla
Tesla has officially launched its long-anticipated ride-hailing service in the San Francisco Bay Area, marking a significant step forward in the company’s autonomous vehicle roadmap.
In a Wednesday post on X, @Tesla_AI confirmed that invites to the Bay Area service are now being sent out. The rollout comes as part of a new Tesla Robotaxi app update (version 25.7.11), which quietly enabled ride-hailing in the region — home to over 7.7 million people.
The Bay Area launch follows closely on the heels of Tesla introducing dynamic pricing for Robotaxi rides, doing away with the previous flat fare of $6.90. With the new pricing structure, shorter rides now cost less, making the service more competitive with traditional ride-hailing apps.
Tesla’s Robotaxi service in California currently uses Model Y vehicles with a human safety driver behind the wheel. This differs from the pilot program in Austin, Texas, where vehicles operate without a driver and only a safety monitor sits in the passenger seat. Tesla reportedly plans to remove the safety driver in California as well, replacing them with a monitor and remote operator — pending regulatory approval that could arrive within the next month or two.
Tesla’s Robotaxi service already boasts a significantly larger operational geofence in the Bay Area compared to Waymo’s. While Waymo’s coverage is limited to core areas like San Francisco and parts of the Peninsula — including Palo Alto and Mountain View — Tesla’s service area spans a much broader portion of the region.
The Tesla Robotaxi geofence stretches from San Francisco down through the Peninsula and into much of Silicon Valley, encompassing major population centers like San Jose, Los Altos, and Fremont. Earlier reports had pegged the San Francisco rollout for last week, suggesting Tesla was sharply accelerating its expansion timeline.
As Tesla builds toward its ambitions for autonomy, the Bay Area launch sets the stage for what could become a major shift in the company’s business.
