Tesla CEO Says Robotaxi Service Will Expand Across U.S. by End of Year

Tesla CEO Elon Musk stated the company's Robotaxi service will be widespread in the United States by the end of the year. He made the comments during a Zoom appearance at the Samson International Smart Mobility Summit in Tel Aviv on Monday, May 18. Musk said the service already operates with no people inside and no safety monitors in three cities in Texas.

He added that the company plans to expand to Dallas and Houston after an initial launch in Austin.

Tesla currently operates its Robotaxis using Model Y vehicles in limited areas of Austin, Dallas, Houston and parts of California. The company has previously told investors it plans to expand the service to cities such as Phoenix, Miami, Orlando and Las Vegas.

Rides can be ordered using a cell phone app similar to those used for Uber and Lyft rides. The Robotaxi app is currently available only on Apple iOS devices, and riders must create an account to use the service.

Current federal rules limit automakers to 2,500 test vehicles that do not meet federal motor vehicle safety standards. That limit restricts the number of Robotaxis Tesla can deploy. Prior congressional proposals would have allowed carmakers to request as many as 100,000 exemptions, but those measures have not passed.

Musk said the limiting factor for expansion is rigorous validation to ensure safety. John Bozzella, president and CEO of the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, said in an April 2025 statement that the technology works and will help improve safety on the roads and increase mobility.

He added that the ability of developers, investors, automakers and consumers to reach their full potential has been hampered by government inaction.