Tesla launches Robotaxi in Miami without safety monitor

Tesla has launched its driverless Robotaxi service in a small section of Miami, marking the fifth US city for the company and the first where the cars operate with no safety monitor onboard. The rollout covers a patch of West Miami, away from the busy downtown, following a similar cautious approach used in Dallas and Houston earlier this year.

No human minder

Tesla's VP of AI software, Ashok Elluswamy, confirmed the Miami cars are running without a safety monitor Source: The Next Web. This is a notable departure from the Austin launch in June 2025, where a monitor was initially present. The company later removed them in Austin as well.

Competitive landscape

Miami is already home to Waymo's autonomous taxi service, which launched in April, and Amazon's Zoox is testing there too Source: Engadget. Tesla's camera-only approach differs from the sensor-heavy systems used by rivals, potentially offering cost advantages but raising safety questions as regulators watch closely.

Expansion plans

• Tesla aims to offer Robotaxi in a dozen states by the end of 2025, including Phoenix, Las Vegas, Orlando, and Tampa Source: The Next Web.
• The geographic scope in Miami is expected to expand, as seen in Austin where service grew to cover the entire metro last month Source: Engadget.
• However, Tesla has a history of missing self-driving deadlines, so the timeline remains uncertain Source: The Next Web.