Musk sees 'widespread' Tesla Robotaxi presence in US. Here's what's needed

Tesla CEO Elon Musk stated the company’s Robotaxi service will be ‘widespread in the U.S. by the end of this year,’ during a May 18 appearance at the Samson International Smart Mobility Summit in Tel Aviv. Currently, the autonomous ride-hailing service operates in limited areas of Austin, Dallas, Houston, and parts of California, using Model Y vehicles with Full Self Drive software. Musk noted the service will expand to cities like Phoenix, Miami, Orlando, and Las Vegas, though rigorous safety validation remains the primary hurdle. The Robotaxi app allows users to book rides via iOS devices, similar to Uber or Lyft. Musk described the autonomous driving experience as ‘quite magical,’ claiming the car ‘feels like it is sentient.’ He reiterated Tesla’s long-term vision of transitioning entirely to autonomous vehicles, except for the next-gen Roadster. Expansion requires congressional approval to increase the number of self-driving cars on U.S. roads. Musk emphasized Tesla’s commitment to safety, stating the company has not had a single accident or injury during Robotaxi operations to date. The service’s growth hinges on regulatory clearance and scaling software validation across new cities. Tesla’s Robotaxi initiative aligns with Musk’s broader prediction that personal car ownership will become ‘quite niche’ within a decade. The company also hinted at future developments in humanoid robots, framing its vehicles as ‘four-wheeled robots’ in an evolving automation landscape.