Tesla pilots robotaxis in Orlando and Tampa ahead of Q2 earnings
Tesla has initiated robotaxi pilot programs in Orlando and Tampa, Florida, one day before the company's Q2 earnings call. These launches expand the company's autonomous vehicle testing in the state.
Electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla has launched limited robotaxi pilot programs in Orlando and Tampa, Florida, just ahead of the company's second-quarter earnings report.
The move marks the third city in Florida where Tesla is trialing its autonomous vehicle service, following a small launch in Miami several weeks ago. The operational areas in the new cities appear to be fairly small, and Tesla has not provided further details regarding the expansion.
The company previously announced autonomous fleet rollouts in Dallas and Houston, Texas, but the scaling of those operations has been slow. CEO Elon Musk had previously promised a more aggressive timeline for robotaxi services, projecting coverage for half the U.S. population by the end of 2025.
Last month, the U.S. Department of Transportation proposed a rule change that would remove the requirement for brake pedals in vehicles designed for autonomous operation. If adopted, this could clear the way for Tesla to deploy its advanced "Cybercab" electric vehicles more widely.