Musk Says Tesla Robotaxis Will Be Widespread in U.S. by Year-End
Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced on Thursday that the company plans to have a “widespread” network of driverless robotaxis across the U.S. by the end of 2026.
Current Deployment
Tesla’s robotaxi service is already running in a few cities. The first vehicles hit Austin streets in June, with human safety supervisors on board. The company later launched a ride-share service in San Francisco, also with humans driving.
Musk shared on X that some Austin robotaxis now operate “with no safety monitor.” Tesla VP of AI software Ashok Elluswamy added that rollout will start with a few unsupervised vehicles mixed into the fleet, increasing over time.
Past Promises and Challenges
Musk previously predicted autonomous ride-hailing for half of U.S. households by the end of 2026, a target that was not met. In 2025, he said Austin would have 500 robotaxis but later revised the number to 60. Tesla still lacks permits to run driverless cars on California roads.
Competition and Public Perception
Tesla faces a competitive robotaxi market. Waymo operates in five U.S. markets and recently launched in Miami. China’s Baidu ApolloGo and Amazon-owned Zoox also compete.
Consumer skepticism remains high. Surveys indicate many Americans worry about robotaxi safety. California regulators recently found Tesla engaged in deceptive marketing over driverless claims.
Broader AI Ambitions
Musk also said Tesla will sell Optimus robots to the public by the end of 2027. He predicts AI may surpass human intelligence by the end of 2026 or 2027.
