On September 7, Tesla officially launched its Robotaxi (autonomous ride-hailing) app to the public, and its download numbers have shown a clear demand for the test project in the market.
Previously, Tesla conducted a two-and-a-half-month test with a select group of influencers and media. Now, the company has announced the public launch of Robotaxi ride-hailing services in Austin, Texas, and the Bay Area in California.
According to IT Home, the app is currently only available for iOS users, and iPhone users can join the waitlist by downloading the app. Tesla has not yet released an Android version of the Robotaxi app but has revealed that the Android version will be available soon.
Tesla’s previous targeted testing has progressed smoothly. In Austin, during the testing phase, local authorities only recorded one “safety concern” related to Robotaxi. Overall, the testing process was very smooth, and passengers who experienced the service gave positive feedback.
At this stage, Tesla still equips Robotaxi with some safety measures, such as safety monitors and safety drivers, but these are temporary precautionary arrangements. Tesla CEO Elon Musk has stated that these measures are expected to be removed by the end of this year.
Clearly, there is a large number of people eager to experience Tesla’s Robotaxi, and the app’s download numbers are the best proof.
Brett Winton from Ark Invest pointed out that the first-day download count of Tesla’s Robotaxi app exceeded Uber’s by 40% during all 30-day periods and was six times higher than Waymo’s highest-ever downloads.
This download volume directly reflects the market demand for Robotaxi services. In fact, many people had previously expressed a desire to try it, but at the time, Tesla wasn’t ready to expand the test from a targeted group to the general public.
As the project expands, if Tesla can continue to increase its fleet, the availability of Robotaxi rides will further grow. Currently, Tesla has allowed some of the earliest users on the waitlist to officially use the service.
