On July 10, 2025, Tesla CEO Elon Musk revealed on social media platform X that, pending regulatory approval, Tesla's autonomous taxi (Robotaxi) service will expand to the San Francisco Bay Area within 1-2 months, initially deploying autonomous Model Y vehicles.
Additionally, Musk stated that the service area in Austin, Texas, will be expanded this weekend. Currently, Tesla's service in Austin is only available to a limited number of users in specific areas, and safety supervisors are present. The exact scope of the service has not been disclosed.
Compared to Waymo, a subsidiary of Alphabet, the two companies have significant differences in their technical approaches: Tesla uses a pure visual solution, relying solely on cameras to perceive the environment; Waymo integrates multiple sensors such as cameras and lidar, and is equipped with redundant systems such as backup braking and independent power sources. Waymo has been offering driverless services without safety supervisors in multiple locations, including San Francisco and Los Angeles, since 2022.
However, both companies have encountered issues in their operations: Tesla vehicles in Austin have driven against traffic and collided with parked vehicles on the side of the road; Waymo has experienced traffic congestion due to fog and has collided with roadblocks on multiple occasions.
