Tesla Plans to Remove Safety Monitors from Austin Robotaxis by Year-End

Oct 24, 2025
The Verge
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Summary

Tesla announces plans to remove human safety monitors from its Austin robotaxis by year-end, marking a major step toward fully autonomous operations after logging over 250,000 monitored miles in the city, while expanding to 8-10 new markets by 2025.

Key Points

  • Musk announces Tesla plans to remove safety monitors from robotaxis in Austin by the end of the year, citing a cautious approach due to potential media scrutiny of any accidents
  • Tesla currently operates robotaxis with human safety monitors in Austin and San Francisco, having covered over 250,000 miles in Austin and over 1 million miles in San Francisco
  • The company aims to launch robotaxi services in 8-10 new markets by the end of 2025, including Nevada, Florida, and Arizona, with safety monitors initially required in new locations

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