Tesla has launched a pilot self-driving taxi service in Austin, TX, utilizing a fleet of approximately 10 autonomous vehicles, marking its first attempt at transporting paying passengers without a human driver. Each ride costs a flat rate of $4.20. The initiative was confirmed by CEO Elon Musk and is part of Tesla’s broader strategy to develop autonomous mobility as a significant revenue source. This launch follows new Texas legislation requiring state permits for driverless cars, expected to take effect on September 1, 2025.
In the competitive landscape of robotic taxi services, other companies like Amazon’s Zoox and Alphabet’s Waymo are progressing as well. Zoox has opened its first dedicated robotaxi manufacturing facility in California, while Waymo plans to restart autonomous vehicle testing in New York City and runs a commercial service delivering over 250,000 rides weekly across major U.S. cities.
