Tesla Seeks Approval for Robotaxi Service in Phoenix, Broadening Its Reach Beyond Austin
Tesla has recently submitted an application to test and operate its robotaxi service in Phoenix, Arizona. This comes on the heels of the launch of its limited pilot program in Austin, Texas last month. The Arizona Department of Transportation confirmed on July 10 that Tesla reached out to the Motor Vehicle Division on June 26 to initiate the certification process for autonomous vehicle testing, both with and without a human driver.
The decision on the application is anticipated by the end of July. Tesla has expressed interest in operating within the Phoenix Metro area. This is a region where its competitor, Waymo, has been successfully running driverless robotaxis since 2020.
This move signifies Tesla’s ambitious expansion plans. CEO Elon Musk is aiming to catch up to Waymo, which currently provides 250,000 paid rides weekly across multiple cities.
- Tesla’s Austin pilot currently operates with approximately 10 Model Y vehicles.
- These vehicles are equipped with safety supervisors.
- The service is limited to invited Tesla enthusiasts and investors.