Tesla has expanded its Robotaxi service to Dallas and Houston, Texas, further extending its autonomous ride-hailing footprint in the state. The electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer announced the rollout via a post on X (formerly Twitter), accompanied by maps detailing the new service areas in both cities.
This expansion follows the service’s initial launch in Austin, Texas, where Tesla’s headquarters is located. During the Austin pilot, the company deployed a “Tesla Safety Monitor”—a human supervisor seated in the passenger seat to oversee operations. Earlier in 2024, Tesla began phasing out these safety monitors in certain regions, enabling fully autonomous operation of its Robotaxis.
The latest announcement included a 360-degree video showcasing a Robotaxi operating without a safety monitor, though Tesla has not confirmed whether the Dallas and Houston services will also operate without in-car supervision. The company has previously disclosed that some Robotaxis are occasionally controlled remotely by human operators.
With this expansion, Tesla is directly competing with Waymo, which launched its autonomous ride-hailing service in Dallas and Houston in February 2024. Tesla is also eyeing further expansion into the Bay Area, California, where it has secured approvals for a ride-hailing service but has not yet received authorization for fully autonomous taxis in the state.
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