Tesla is expanding its robotaxi service to Dallas and Houston, Texas, the electric vehicle maker announced. This move follows the service's launch in Austin last year, further extending its reach in the United States.
The company's official robotaxi account on X shared videos of its Model Y SUVs operating without drivers in the two cities and provided map outlines of service areas. Specific details on fleet size and pricing were not disclosed.
CEO Elon Musk confirmed the expansion via an X post. This development occurs as competitors like Alphabet's Waymo and Amazon's Zoox are also accelerating their robotaxi service expansions.
The growth of its robotaxi service and the adoption of its full self-driving software are critical to Tesla's strategy, as CEO Elon Musk increasingly shifts the company's focus towards artificial intelligence and robotics, moving beyond electric vehicles.
Tesla initially deployed self-driving taxis in Austin with human safety monitors. The company has since broadened the service area and begun removing these monitors. A ride-hailing service was also launched in the San Francisco Bay Area last year. Musk has expressed ambitions for rapid U.S. robotaxi expansion, despite past missed deadlines for widespread deployment.