Tesla has applied to test and operate its Robotaxis in Arizona, with a goal of eventually deploying the service in the Phoenix area. The move comes after the company’s initial pilot test in Austin, Texas, which faced regulatory scrutiny due to incidents involving the self-driving vehicles. Tesla claims its approach to autonomous driving technology will make its vehicles more economically viable. However, the company is working to catch up with market leader Waymo, which has been offering a driverless robotaxi service to the public in Phoenix since 2020.
A decision on Tesla’s Arizona application is expected by end of July, and the company has expressed interest in operating within the Phoenix Metro area. The Arizona Department of Transportation confirmed that Tesla plans to conduct autonomous vehicle testing and operations with and without human safety drivers on board. Waymo’s robotaxi service already operates a fleet of 400 vehicles in Phoenix, while Tesla’s initial efforts in Austin faced regulatory issues due to incidents involving its Robotaxis.
Tesla faces stiff competition in the self-driving market, but the company remains committed to expanding its services. The CEO, Elon Musk, has stated that the company’s Robotaxi service will expand to the San Francisco Bay Area “probably in a month or two.” Despite the challenges, Tesla is working to improve its autonomous driving technology and make it more economically viable.
Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2025/07/10/tesla-moves-to-expand-robotaxi-to-phoenix-following-rival-waymo.html