Tesla expands geofence in Austin for robotaxi pilot program

AUSTIN (KXAN) – Tesla has expanded the geofence in its Robotaxi pilot in Austin, less than a month after the program’s official launch. 

The service, which was originally limited to the Zilker Park and Montopolis area, now extends past Lady Bird Lake and into the Windsor Park neighborhood. Elon Musk announced the expansion late last week in a social media post, with vehicles traveling along the new routes over the weekend.

While the expansion signals Tesla’s confidence, the pilot program faced initial bumps in the rollout. Videos of Robotaxis violating traffic laws proliferated online after the program's launch, quickly drawing the attention of federal safety regulators. The videos show Robotaxis driving on the wrong side of the road, suddenly stopping in intersections, and traveling faster than the speed limit. 

State officials previously asked Musk to slow down on the autonomous vehicles pilot. Days before the initial pilot program, state lawmakers sent Tesla a letter requesting the company delay the program's debut in Austin until new regulation takes effect in September. 

The new regulation would require AV operators to receive authorization from the Department of Motor Vehicles before taking to the streets, raising the safety standards of the operation. But Tesla did not acknowledge the letter, instead moving ahead with the pilot program — and its expansion. 

The expanded route also comes with an increase in prices. Riders will now pay $6.90 per ride, up more than two dollars from the previous fee. 

Tesla is currently hiring Robotaxi operators to “accelerate Robotaxi development,” according to a post by Tesla recruiter Ben Costa. The company held a hiring event immediately after the pilot’s launch, and has continued the programming throughout the summer.  

Robotaxis aren’t only expanding throughout Austin — they are slowly diffusing across the country. Musk confirmed in a statement on X that Robotaxis will be available in California in “a month or so.” Tesla is also hiring Robotaxi operators in Phoenix, Arizona, where the company has already applied for AV testing permits.