Tesla has received approval from Arizona’s Department of Transportation to begin testing autonomous robotaxi vehicles in the Phoenix Metro area, officials confirmed on Friday. The trials, which will include safety drivers inside the vehicles, mark a significant step in Tesla’s plans to expand its ride-hailing service across the United States. The company had first applied for the permit in June, signaling its intent to scale up autonomous transport services.

While Tesla has not yet confirmed a start date for the Arizona trials, the program is expected to serve as a crucial pilot for broader deployment. The approval follows Tesla’s earlier testing in Austin, Texas, where a small fleet of robotaxis carried select passengers under strict conditions, including the presence of safety monitors. These cautious rollouts are seen as a way to build trust and ensure regulatory compliance before a wider launch.
Chief Executive Elon Musk has previously declared that Tesla will make its autonomous ride-hailing service available to roughly half of the U.S. population by the end of this year.

Industry analysts say the Arizona approval moves Tesla closer to that ambitious target, though questions remain about regulatory hurdles, safety concerns, and technological readiness. Musk has argued that Tesla’s self-driving software will ultimately make roads safer and transportation more efficient.

The Phoenix Metro area has become a hub for autonomous vehicle trials, with companies such as Alphabet’s Waymo already offering limited driverless taxi services. Tesla’s entry into this competitive market highlights the race among tech and auto firms to dominate the future of urban mobility. Arizona’s open regulatory environment has been a major draw for such experiments, giving companies the flexibility to innovate at scale.

Despite the milestone, Tesla faces significant challenges, including skepticism from regulators and consumer advocates who argue that fully autonomous vehicles still pose safety risks. The outcome of these trials could determine how quickly Tesla is able to roll out robotaxis nationwide and whether the company can deliver on Musk’s vision of transforming transportation. For now, all eyes will be on Phoenix as Tesla takes its next step in the self-driving revolution.

Source: Reuters.