Image: Tesla
Tesla’s driverless ride-hailing service in Austin, Texas, will open to the general public starting in September, CEO Elon Musk confirmed over the weekend. The Robotaxi program, which launched to a small group of invited users in June and has since been expanding its tester pool, will soon be available for anyone in the city to try — no special invitation required.
The move would mark a significant milestone for Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology. Musk has said that the private FSD build powering the Austin Robotaxi fleet is about six months ahead of what’s currently available to regular FSD subscribers. Improvements from the Robotaxi version are expected to make their way into public releases in the near future.
Coinciding with the open-access Robotaxi launch, Musk also revealed that FSD 14 — a major update featuring 10x more neural net parameters and other upgrades — could arrive next month if testing goes smoothly. That release promises to reduce driver intervention in rare and complex scenarios, while still requiring attention in heavy weather or unusual traffic situations.
Tesla’s planned shift from a closed pilot to citywide access in under 90 days suggests a high degree of confidence in the safety and reliability of its Robotaxi tech. However, the company will likely need to significantly expand the size of its Austin Robotaxi fleet to meet demand once everyone can book rides.
Currently, Tesla’s Robotaxi operations are limited to Austin, while a similar ride-hailing service operates in the Bay Area with a human safety driver behind the wheel due to regulatory restrictions in California. With most Americans yet to experience a driverless ride, Austin’s open-access rollout could be the first taste of the future for many.
