Tesla Rapidly Expands 'Robotaxi' Fleet in California

Tesla has swiftly accelerated the expansion of its 'Robotaxi' service in California, having registered an impressive 1,655 vehicles for the ride-hailing sector within a remarkably brief period.

According to a representative from the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), Tesla has also enlisted 798 drivers for this service, a significant increase from the initial 28 cars and 128 drivers when the venture began in August.

These figures represent vehicles that the state has cleared for operational use, which may differ from the actual number currently in service. Moreover, as Tesla continues to add drivers, they are not obligated to report these updates to the state, suggesting the real figures might be even higher.

Conversely, Waymo, another major player in the autonomous vehicle market, claims to have over 1,000 vehicles functioning within its driverless fleet, with the CPUC verifying 1,955 vehicles registered under Waymo's name statewide.

Both Zoox and Waymo deliver fully autonomous services, while Waymo began offering rides without drivers to select public users as of 2023.

While Tesla has opted out of registering as an autonomous vehicle service in California—a state recognized for its stringent autonomous vehicle regulations—it only allows the service to operate with a driver present. Furthermore, Tesla has not requested permission for driverless trials from state authorities.

The CPUC permits Tesla to offer transportation primarily to its employees and a limited segment of the public, with a separate authorization required for fully autonomous passenger services.

User Experience and Challenges

Since debuting the Robotaxi app to a wider audience in September, the service has faced some public discontent due to extended wait times. Initially available to just a select few early adopters, as the service has scaled up, certain users have reported on social media experiencing waits as long as 40 minutes.

Alistair Barr from Business Insider noted personal difficulties in obtaining a vehicle during busy hours due to insufficient availability, though off-peak times presented quicker access with wait periods around ten minutes.

Workforce Expansion and Future Plans

In response to increased demand, Tesla is actively boosting its driver workforce, offering additional wages to hourly staff willing to assist in this growing network.

In another location, Austin, Tesla has initiated trials of vehicles operating without on-board drivers or safety officials. Although the exact number of cars involved remains unknown, Tesla is not required to report these figures to Austin's transportation department.

Elon Musk indicated in an October podcast that the firm aims to deploy approximately 500 cars in Austin by the end of the year.