Image: Tesla
Elon Musk says Tesla is preparing a significant expansion of its Robotaxi fleet in Austin next month, responding directly to growing user frustration over long wait times, failed bookings, and persistent “High Service Demand” messages inside the Tesla Robotaxi app. According to Musk, the number of Robotaxis operating in the city should “roughly double” in December — a move aimed squarely at easing the strain on a system that’s been overwhelmed since opening to the public.
The spike in demand is no surprise. Just last week, Tesla removed the waitlist and made Robotaxi access publicly available to all iOS users. Since then, users have reported being unable to secure a ride despite trying multiple locations and times throughout the day. Longtime Tesla watcher Joe Tegtmeyer (@JoeTegtmeyer) said he was unable to get a single ride after hours of attempts, while others have shared similar stories about extensive waits and near-zero availability.
With a roughly 250-square-mile geofence — and ongoing expansions — it’s become clear that Austin’s fleet isn’t keeping pace. Tesla most recently expanded the Robotaxi service area in Austin by nearly 50%, and Musk previously said the company could have 500 Robotaxis in the city by the end of the year. In the Bay Area, where the company plans to have over 1,000 vehicles by year-end, Tesla recently kicked off service to airports.
The coming fleet boost also aligns with Tesla’s broader Robotaxi roadmap. During the company’s annual shareholder meeting earlier this month, Musk confirmed plans to expand Robotaxi service to Miami, Dallas, Phoenix, and Las Vegas next. He also reiterated that safety drivers are expected to be removed from the Austin pilot by the end of 2025, ahead of the planned rollout of Cybercabs across the network next year.
Tesla is also iterating quickly on the software side. The Robotaxi app just rolled out a new update adding screen sharing support along with a refreshed data collection prompt — both likely steps toward smoothing out support interactions and improving remote diagnostics as the fleet scales.
With demand surging and availability stretched thin, Austin’s Robotaxi experience has been feeling the pressure. If Musk’s timeline holds, December’s expansion could be the first meaningful relief for riders since the service opened to the public.
