Tesla’s Robotaxi Expansion Falls Short of Musk’s Promises

When Elon Musk presented Tesla’s results in July 2025, he described robotaxis as a cornerstone of the company’s future. Following the launch of the service in Austin, Texas, he predicted rapid expansion and said autonomous transportation could reach roughly half of the US population by the end of the year, according to Bloomberg.

Nearly a year later, Tesla operates just 59 robotaxis across three Texas cities.

That falls well short of Musk’s earlier projection that Austin alone would have a fleet of more than 500 autonomous vehicles by the end of 2025.

The company continues to face both technical and operational challenges. Some users have reported unreliable service, including being dropped off hundreds of feet from their intended destination.

Musk has blamed the slower rollout on regulatory obstacles. However, Tesla has yet to fully utilize opportunities in several jurisdictions where it has already secured the necessary permits.

Beyond refining the technology, the company must also build the infrastructure needed to support a large autonomous fleet, including maintenance facilities, charging stations, and automated vehicle-washing centers.

Tesla is currently planning a more than $2mn expansion of its service center in Austin, while a similar facility is under construction in Las Vegas.

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