CNBC discovered Tesla Robotaki on June 24, 2025 in Austin, Texas
Katie Tarasov
Elon Musk Tesla Following in the footsteps of market leader Waymo, we tested and eventually deployed a Robotaxi vehicle in Phoenix, Arizona.
Tesla has applied to conduct autonomous vehicle testing and operation in Arizona, a spokesman for the Arizona Department of Transport, in violation of human safety drivers on board, told CNBC on Thursday. A decision on the application is expected at the end of July, and Tesla “shows interest in operating within the Phoenix Metro area,” the spokesman said in an email.
Reuters first reported Tesla’s Arizona ambitions.
The efforts to expand to Arizona come after Tesla began pilot testing of Robotaxis in Austin, Texas in June. Tesla’s Austin Fleet includes the Model Y SUV with the company’s latest automated driving system. These vehicles are remotely supervised by private operations centre employees, each containing a human safety supervisor who rides with passengers.
The safe supervisor sits in the passenger seat, accompanying the rider who invited Tesla fans. If Tesla’s Robotaxis gets into trouble, the supervisor can intervene.
Waymo owned by Google Parent alphabetwhich opened the Phoenix-area driverless robotaxy service to the public in 2020 and now runs a fleet of 400 robotaxys, the company told CNBC on Thursday.
Once considered a pioneer in autonomous driving, Tesla is now working to keep up with Waymo. Companies have a clear approach to autonomous driving technology. Tesla argues that the choice to use cameras primarily instead of expensive sensors like the Lidar makes self-driving cars more economically viable.
Musk Company’s first efforts in Austin came across issues.
One passenger who runs a Tesla-focused YouTube channel called Dirty Tesla caught the incident on camera where his Robotakshi rang a car parked outside the restaurant.
Other incidents in which Tesla Robotaxis violated Austin road rules have also been captured on camera and circulated on social media, with regulations scrutiny from the federal vehicle safety agency, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Tesla is scheduled to hold a second quarter revenue call on July 23rd, during which time executives will discuss the first Robotaxi pilot.
Separately, Musk said on Wednesday on X that Tesla’s Robotaxi service will expand to the San Francisco Gulf region.
The California Utilities Commission and the California Department of Motor Vehicles told CNBC Thursday that Tesla has yet to apply for approval to begin driverless testing or commercial deployment of the state’s Robotaxis.
California DMV sued Tesla in 2022, claiming it made false claims in marketing and advertising about the vehicle’s autonomous driving capabilities.
Watch: I went to Texas for the release of Robotaki in Texas. This is what we saw
