On September 5, 2025, Tesla announced the official launch of its Robotaxi app, marking a key step in the company’s entry into the ride-hailing market. The release follows a testing phase of about two and a half months, during which selected Tesla-related influencers and media outlets participated in trials, laying the groundwork for the public rollout.
Robotaxi was tested in Austin, Texas, and the San Francisco Bay Area. According to records from the City of Austin, only one “safety concern” was reported during the period, with overall operations considered smooth. Test users generally provided positive feedback.
At present, the app is available only to iOS users, who can join a waitlist after downloading. Tesla stated that an Android version is under development and will be rolled out gradually in the future.
Despite favorable test results, the company has included safety monitors and backup drivers in the service. CEO Elon Musk said these measures are transitional, with plans to phase out safety drivers later this year in pursuit of full autonomy.
The app’s first-day download numbers were impressive. According to ARK Invest’s Brett Winton, Robotaxi downloads exceeded Uber’s historical peak by about 40%, and were six times higher than Waymo’s best performance. Industry experts believe this underscores the strong market interest in autonomous ride-hailing.
Today's Tesla Robotaxi App downloads outpaced Uber across all rolling 30 day periods by 40% and bested Waymo's best download day ever by >6x pic.twitter.com/s9s1XTsUu2
— Brett Winton (@wintonARK) September 5, 2025
As downloads surge, Tesla is preparing to expand its fleet to meet demand. Some users on the waitlist have already received notifications, suggesting that the service area may broaden in the near future.