Tesla has quietly flipped the switch on one of its biggest Robotaxi expansions yet, opening public access to its autonomous ride-hailing service through the Robotaxi app on iOS. Users across the U.S. — and even in Canada — are reporting that they’re getting immediate access as soon as they download or update the app, with no waitlist or approval delay.
According to multiple new users, Tesla has opened access today to both its robotaxi service in Austin and its autonomous ride-hailing offering in the Bay Area. The move effectively takes the pilot from a limited rollout to near-public availability, with the company seemingly removing most onboarding friction overnight. The floodgates, it appears, are officially open.
Tesla’s Robotaxi program is currently live in two markets: Austin, where it operates fully driverless with a safety monitor in the passenger seat, and San Francisco, where the service still uses a human safety driver behind the wheel. Elon Musk recently said the company plans to have 500 Robotaxis in Austin by the end of this year, and over 1,000 cars in the Bay Area. Today’s expansion signals Tesla is making progress toward that target.
During Tesla’s annual shareholder meeting earlier this month, Musk also laid out the company’s roadmap for expanding Robotaxi service to Miami, Dallas, Phoenix, and Las Vegas next. Safety monitors are expected to be removed from the Austin fleet by the end of 2025, ahead of Tesla’s planned launch of its long-awaited Cybercab vehicles across the network next year.
Over the past several weeks, Tesla has been steadily widening its operational footprint across both active markets. In Austin, the company recently expanded its coverage area by nearly 50% and enabled freeway driving. In the Bay Area, Tesla has introduced airport service, bringing its offering closer to feature parity with legacy ride-hail options.
The timing of Tesla’s public access rollout is notable: Waymo, the company’s most prominent robotaxi rival, announced today that it is bringing fully autonomous service to five new U.S. cities. With both companies accelerating their expansions, the race for robotaxi dominance is heating up faster than expected.
For now, Tesla owners — and non-owners — who want to try the Robotaxi service can simply download the app and request a ride. Access appears to be rolling out rapidly and broadly across the iOS user base.
