Tesla Inc. Launches Robotaxi Service in Orlando and Tampa

Tesla Inc. launched its driverless Robotaxi ride-hailing service in Orlando and Tampa, Florida, during the final week of July 2026. In Orlando, the service operates via a smartphone app within a 25- to 45-square-mile zone near the airport corridor, specifically around Semoran Boulevard and Lee Vista Boulevard. Current restrictions prevent the vehicles from accessing downtown areas, major theme parks, and Orlando International Airport terminals.

Tesla Inc.'s vision-based system, which relies on cameras and AI-based software, differs from the LiDAR and radar technology used by competitor Waymo. The service features a $3.25 base fee plus approximately $1.00 per mile. This rollout follows similar expansions in Miami, Austin, Dallas, and Houston.

The expansion coincides with the company's second-quarter earnings report and a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration probe. The federal investigation follows 17 incident reports in Austin, including nine collisions and one fatality. Additionally, reports emerged of a Tesla Inc. vehicle driving the wrong way on a one-way street in Tampa. Despite investor concerns regarding deployment speed, Elon Musk expects the service to become a widespread operation by the end of the year.