{"id":"7538300f-62ac-452d-8ab7-36fef779acc8","modelId":"29951756-3e69-44e2-bc13-aa01909c0098","versionId":null,"locationId":"1220c8d4-4aaf-45b2-80dc-ba28b580bd42","operatorId":null,"ownerId":null,"slug":"tesla-robotaxi-austin","status":"active","firstSeen":"2025-07-01T00:00:00.000Z","manufacturerSerial":null,"reviewStatus":"reviewed","sources":[{"url":"https://robotaxi-safety-tracker.com/expansion.html","label":"Austin unsupervised L4, ~72 vehicles, monitors being removed from some","title":"Austin unsupervised L4, ~72 vehicles, monitors being removed from some","mediaType":"article","sourceName":"Robotaxi Safety Tracker","publishedAt":"2026-02-04"},{"url":"https://www.basenor.com/blogs/news/tesla-robotaxi-austin-safety-record-what-nhtsa-data-shows","label":"Austin PD: no major crashes, no citations; all events 2026 Model Y w/ monitor","title":"Austin PD: no major crashes, no citations; all events 2026 Model Y w/ monitor","mediaType":"article","sourceName":"Basenor","publishedAt":"2026-05-19"}],"notes":"Operator: Tesla (runs its own service). Tesla launched its robotaxi network in Austin in July 2025 — its first and most autonomous market. Austin is where Tesla operates UNSUPERVISED (Level 4): some vehicles run without an in-car safety monitor (Tesla began removing monitors from some Austin vehicles), though most still carry one. Initial geofence ~25 square miles; ~72 vehicles as of early 2026. This is the deployment with the federally-reported crash record (see linked incident). Teleoperators can remotely assist at <10 mph for repositioning. Austin Police have publicly confirmed no major crashes and no traffic citations issued to Tesla robotaxis in the city.","keyFacts":[{"label":"Launch","value":"July 2025 (Tesla's first robotaxi market)"},{"label":"Supervision","value":"Unsupervised (L4) — some vehicles run with no in-car monitor"},{"label":"Fleet","value":"~72 vehicles (early 2026)"},{"label":"Geofence","value":"~25 sq miles initial"},{"label":"Vehicle","value":"2026 Model Y with ADS"}],"reviewNote":null,"createdAt":"2026-05-26T17:23:16.711Z","updatedAt":"2026-05-26T17:23:34.240Z","model":{"id":"29951756-3e69-44e2-bc13-aa01909c0098","companyId":"bde7c8a1-5d35-449d-93b0-2ac8e4601c16","modelName":"Tesla Robotaxi (Model Y ADS)","slug":"tesla-robotaxi","description":"Tesla's robotaxi service vehicle — a 2026 Model Y operating with Tesla's Autonomous Driving System (ADS, based on Full Self-Driving) engaged. In Austin, some vehicles operate unsupervised (no in-car safety monitor); in the Bay Area, a safety driver is present as required by California law. A teleoperator can remotely assist/pilot a vehicle at speeds under 10 mph for repositioning. Tesla's purpose-built, steering-wheel-free Cybercab — intended as the dedicated robotaxi vehicle at scale — was expected to begin production around April 2026 (not yet the deployed service vehicle as of early 2026). Maturity: pilot (early commercial service under heavy supervision and scrutiny; not yet at-scale).","formFactor":"av","maturityStage":"pilot","specs":{},"manufacturerSerial":null,"reviewStatus":"reviewed","sources":[{"url":"https://robotaxi-safety-tracker.com/expansion.html","label":"2026 Model Y w/ ADS; unsupervised Austin vs supervised Bay Area; teleoperator <10mph; Cybercab production ~Apr 2026","title":"2026 Model Y w/ ADS; unsupervised Austin vs supervised Bay Area; teleoperator <10mph; Cybercab production ~Apr 2026","mediaType":"article","sourceName":"Robotaxi Safety Tracker","publishedAt":"2026-02-04"}],"aliases":["Tesla Robotaxi","Tesla Model Y robotaxi"],"collisionRisk":"low","reviewNote":null,"createdAt":"2026-05-26T17:23:16.405Z","updatedAt":"2026-05-26T17:23:31.412Z","company":{"id":"bde7c8a1-5d35-449d-93b0-2ac8e4601c16","name":"Tesla","slug":"tesla","description":"Electric-vehicle and AI company (NASDAQ: TSLA), founded 2003 and headquartered in Austin, Texas, with a physical-AI program spanning three robotics fronts: a robotaxi ride-hailing service, the Optimus humanoid robot, and the forthcoming purpose-built Cybercab.\n\nRobotaxi: Tesla launched robotaxi service in Austin in July 2025 and operates in two markets as of early 2026 — Austin (unsupervised; some vehicles run without an in-car safety monitor, ~72 vehicles) and the San Francisco Bay Area (supervised, with safety drivers as required by California law, ~168 vehicles), for roughly 240+ robotaxis total. The vehicles are 2026 Model Y cars running Tesla's Full Self-Driving / Autonomous Driving System. At its Q4 2025 earnings call (January 2026), Tesla announced plans to expand to seven additional US cities (Dallas, Houston, Phoenix, Miami, Orlando, Tampa, Las Vegas) in H1 2026 — forward plans pending regulatory approval, not current deployments. The Austin operation carries a federally-mandated crash-reporting record (17 NHTSA-reported incidents July 2025–March 2026, including two teleoperator-caused crashes; zero major crashes and no citations per Austin PD), and NHTSA has separately inquired into videos of erratic driving.\n\nOptimus: Tesla's humanoid robot, with Gen 3 mass production commencing at the Fremont factory on January 21, 2026. Notably, at the January 2026 earnings call Musk admitted that as of then zero Optimus robots were doing 'useful work' in Tesla's factories — units at Fremont and Giga Texas are in a supervised learning and data-collection phase, not yet performing productive autonomous manufacturing work. Tesla committed $20B+ in 2026 capex toward Optimus, plans to convert its Fremont Model S/X lines to Optimus manufacturing (toward a stated 1-million-unit/year capacity by end-2026), and is constructing a dedicated Giga Texas facility — all production-capacity ambitions, with first productive internal deployment projected for late 2026 to 2027.\n\nCybercab: a purpose-built, steering-wheel-free dedicated robotaxi vehicle, with production expected to begin around April 2026 — not yet the deployed service vehicle as of early 2026.\n\nTesla's physical-AI program operates under intense regulatory and public scrutiny, and is notable for the gap between its publicly stated targets and demonstrated results.\n\nKey facts: Robotaxi fleet — ~240+ vehicles (Austin ~72 unsupervised, Bay Area ~168 supervised); Robotaxi launch — Austin, July 2025; Robotaxi vehicle — 2026 Model Y with FSD/ADS; Announced expansion — 7 cities H1 2026 (plans, pending approval — not deployed); Austin safety record — 17 NHTSA incidents (Jul 2025–Mar 2026); zero major crashes / no citations per Austin PD; Optimus — Gen 3 mass production started Jan 21, 2026 (Fremont); Optimus reality check — Musk (Jan 2026): zero doing 'useful work' yet — learning/data-collection phase; Optimus ambition — 1M units/yr capacity target by end-2026 (plan); $20B+ 2026 capex; Cybercab — Production expected ~April 2026 (not yet deployed).","status":"public","founded":2003,"hq":"Austin, Texas, USA","fundingTotal":null,"type":"both","reviewStatus":"reviewed","sources":[{"url":"https://www.tesla.com/we-robot","label":"Tesla — Optimus","title":"Tesla — Optimus","mediaType":"article","sourceName":"Tesla","publishedAt":"2026-01-01"},{"url":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optimus_(robot)","label":"Optimus (robot) — Wikipedia","title":"Optimus (robot) — Wikipedia","mediaType":"article","sourceName":"Wikipedia","publishedAt":"2026-01-01"},{"id":"1d8de986-2997-4108-846b-fa0e891bbaca","url":"https://techcrunch.com/2026/05/21/waymo-halts-freeway-rides-after-robotaxis-struggle-in-construction-zones/","label":"Waymo halts freeway rides after robotaxis struggle in construction zones","title":"Waymo halts freeway rides after robotaxis struggle in construction zones","mediaType":"article","sourceName":"Transportation & Auto News | TechCrunch","publishedAt":"2026-05-21T22:15:00.000Z"},{"url":"https://robotaxi-safety-tracker.com/expansion.html","label":"Tesla robotaxi — Austin (unsupervised) + Bay Area (supervised), ~240 vehicles, 7 announced cities, Cybercab","title":"Tesla robotaxi — Austin (unsupervised) + Bay Area (supervised), ~240 vehicles, 7 announced cities, Cybercab","mediaType":"article","sourceName":"Robotaxi Safety Tracker","publishedAt":"2026-02-04"},{"url":"https://www.cbsnews.com/news/tesla-robotaxi-austin-14-crashes-nhtsa/","label":"Tesla robotaxi Austin launch, expansion plans, NHTSA erratic-driving inquiry","title":"Tesla robotaxi Austin launch, expansion plans, NHTSA erratic-driving inquiry","mediaType":"article","sourceName":"CBS News","publishedAt":"2026-02-17"},{"url":"https://techcrunch.com/2026/05/15/tesla-reveals-two-robotaxi-crashes-involving-teleoperators/","label":"Tesla's two teleoperator-caused robotaxi crashes; 17 NHTSA incidents unredacted","title":"Tesla's two teleoperator-caused robotaxi crashes; 17 NHTSA incidents unredacted","mediaType":"article","sourceName":"TechCrunch","publishedAt":"2026-05-15"},{"url":"https://electrek.co/2026/04/22/tesla-optimus-production-fremont-model-sx-line/","label":"Musk admits zero Optimus doing useful work; Fremont Model S/X line conversion to Optimus","title":"Musk admits zero Optimus doing useful work; Fremont Model S/X line conversion to Optimus","mediaType":"article","sourceName":"Electrek","publishedAt":"2026-04-22"},{"url":"https://www.basenor.com/blogs/news/tesla-robotaxi-austin-safety-record-what-nhtsa-data-shows","label":"Tesla Austin NHTSA safety record — 17 incidents, zero major crashes, evenhanded breakdown","title":"Tesla Austin NHTSA safety record — 17 incidents, zero major crashes, evenhanded breakdown","mediaType":"article","sourceName":"Basenor","publishedAt":"2026-05-19"}],"keyFacts":[],"aliases":["Tesla Inc","Tesla Motors"],"collisionRisk":"low","reviewNote":null,"createdAt":"2026-05-25T17:24:17.509Z","updatedAt":"2026-05-26T19:26:36.285Z"}},"version":null,"location":{"id":"1220c8d4-4aaf-45b2-80dc-ba28b580bd42","name":"Austin","slug":"austin","kind":"city","parentLocationId":null,"lat":null,"lng":null,"reviewStatus":"reviewed","aliases":[],"collisionRisk":"high","reviewNote":null,"createdAt":"2026-05-26T17:23:15.724Z","updatedAt":"2026-05-26T17:23:38.714Z"},"operator":null,"owner":null,"derived":{"trustTier":"unverified","currentPosture":null}}