Tesla is quietly but rapidly scaling its Robotaxi ambitions — and the numbers are starting to tell the story.
According to data from RobotaxiTracker.com, Tesla has added 40 new Model Y vehicles to its Robotaxi and ride-hailing fleets in just the last nine days. Of those, 23 were deployed in Austin alone over the past four days, underscoring how quickly Tesla is responding to surging demand in Texas.
The latest fleet growth brings Tesla’s total tracked Robotaxi fleet to roughly 240 vehicles across two markets. The Bay Area still accounts for the majority, with about 168 Model Ys in service, while Austin now sits at 72 vehicles and climbing. The growth curve is especially telling: while the Bay Area fleet expanded steadily over the past few months, Austin’s line has begun bending sharply upward, reflecting Tesla’s push to scale where demand is highest.
That timing isn’t a coincidence. Earlier this week, Tesla officially began offering completely unsupervised Robotaxi rides in Austin — with no driver or safety monitor onboard — marking the first time a company has launched a public autonomous ride-hailing service using only cameras, with no LiDAR or radar. That milestone alone has triggered an immediate spike in rider interest, creating pressure to add more vehicles to keep wait times down.
Meanwhile, Tesla has also been expanding its Bay Area ride-hailing fleet, though those vehicles continue to operate with a safety driver behind the wheel for now. The dual-market approach suggests Tesla is using Austin as its proving ground for true autonomy, while continuing to scale cautiously in California.
It’s also worth noting that these Robotaxi Model Ys aren’t identical to customer vehicles. Tesla’s fleet cars feature several exclusive hardware tweaks — including camera washers and other subtle changes — that aren’t yet available on consumer Model Ys, at least not publicly.
All of this indicates Tesla is moving faster than it’s letting on. Fleet expansion at this pace, paired with unsupervised rides already live, suggests Tesla is no longer testing Robotaxi concepts — it’s actively building a service. And if Austin’s growth curve is any indication, this rollout may be accelerating sooner than many expected.
