App Launches in Select Areas Including Austin, Texas
Musk: "Fully Driverless Operation Should Be Achieved by Year-End"
Rising Expectations... Stock Up Over 1%
Tesla RoboTaxi posted the official application (app) distribution news on X account on the 3rd (local time). The photo shows the screen displayed on the app when in use. Tesla RoboTaxi X account.
The Tesla RoboTaxi division and the North America division announced the news through their official social networking service account on X (formerly Twitter). The Tesla app is available for anyone to download from the Apple App Store and reached the number one spot in the free travel app category within 12 hours of its release. The Android version is scheduled to be released at a later date.
CEO Musk also drew attention by sharing the app launch on his own X account. This move is being interpreted as a sign that the RoboTaxi pilot service, which began on a limited basis in Austin at the end of June, could expand nationwide.
To use RoboTaxi, users must download the app, log in with their Tesla account, and request a ride. Initially, Tesla's Model Y vehicles will be deployed, and users must ride themselves-third-party ride requests are not allowed. Additionally, passengers under 18 and pets are prohibited from riding. Tesla explained that a lower fare will be applied during the initial promotional period.
The way the service operates also differs by state due to regulatory requirements. For example, in San Francisco, because of regulatory issues, pilot rides are being conducted in a supervised mode using Full Self Driving (FSD) software, with a safety operator seated in the driver's seat, rather than in fully autonomous mode.
Users are sharing their experiences on X. One passenger, who said they used the RoboTaxi app and ride-hailing service for the first time in San Francisco, wrote on X, "I downloaded the RoboTaxi app and got on the waiting list, and within two hours, I was able to take my first ride. Unfortunately, there was someone supervising in the driver's seat, but it was still amazing."
CEO Musk replied to this post, saying, "Safety drivers will only be deployed for a few months to ensure extremely safe initial operations," and added, "Fully driverless operation should be achieved by the end of this year." In a conference call in July, he also stated that, subject to regulatory approval, services would begin within the year in the San Francisco Bay Area, Arizona, and Florida, and that about half of the U.S. population would be able to use autonomous ride-hailing services.
According to Bloomberg News, Tesla has applied for RoboTaxi testing and operating permits in Arizona and is in early discussions with authorities in Nevada. However, the differing regulatory environments in each state remain a significant obstacle.
Reflecting investor optimism, Tesla's share price closed at $338.62 on the New York Stock Exchange that day, up 1.36%. However, the stock price has fallen by about 11% since the beginning of the year, underperforming the broader U.S. stock market.
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