Image: Tesla
Tesla has started testing its Robotaxis on freeways in Austin during commercial rides, marking a new milestone for the company’s autonomous driving program.
According to writer and podcaster @gailalfaratx, who covers Tesla’s Robotaxis and Full Self-Driving system, she took a Robotaxi ride in Austin on Monday that merged onto the freeway with a safety driver behind the wheel.
The setup mirrored Robotaxis operating in the Bay Area, where a monitor sits in the driver’s seat ready to intervene, and the vehicles carry no Robotaxi logos. This is a contrast to the Austin pilot program, where cars in testing have been spotted with Robotaxi branding, no driver behind the wheel, and a safety monitor in the passenger seat.
Watch a Tesla Robotaxi get on an Austin freeway in the video below, courtesy of @gailalfaratx:
The freeway expansion follows Tesla’s move last week to grow its Robotaxi service area in Austin from 91 to 173 square miles, while also adding 50% more cars to the pilot fleet. Tesla first began testing its autonomous Robotaxis in Austin back in June, gradually increasing the coverage area and conducting trials in surrounding regions.
CEO Elon Musk has previously said Tesla plans to open the driverless Robotaxi service in Austin to the general public sometime this month. If that timeline holds, freeway testing is a clear step toward scaling up the pilot. Beyond Austin and the Bay Area, Tesla is also preparing to launch Robotaxi programs in other U.S. cities, including Chicago, as recent job listings have indicated.
