Tesla Robotaxi Launches Unsupervised Service in San Antonio
The 275-square-mile geofence is Tesla's largest day-one service area to date, though airport rides are currently excluded.
Tesla launched unsupervised Robotaxi service in San Antonio, Texas, on November 9, 2026, marking the company’s eighth city for driverless operations.
What Happened
First rides began at 5 a.m. local time following an announcement by Tesla’s official Robotaxi account on X just after midnight. The initial operational zone spans approximately 274 to 275 square miles, making it Tesla’s largest day-one Robotaxi service area to date. The geofence centers on downtown, covering nearly all areas inside Loop 410, and extends north to Loop 1604 between Interstate 10 and U.S. 281. It also reaches west past State Highway 151, east beyond I-35, and south toward I-37, encompassing about one million residents and hundreds of thousands of jobs. While San Antonio International Airport lies within the geofence, Tesla is not currently offering airport pickups or drop-offs.
Why It Matters
The launch makes San Antonio the fifth Texas city to offer unsupervised Tesla Robotaxi service, joining Austin, Houston, Dallas, and Fort Worth. This rapid expansion follows Fort Worth’s debut on November 2 and builds on Austin’s original launch in June 2025. The service utilizes modified Model Y vehicles operating without a safety driver, consistent with recent unsupervised expansions. The 274-square-mile footprint is substantially larger than Waymo’s local presence, signaling continued progress in Tesla’s autonomy efforts after the company began the year without unsupervised rides. Texas Department of Transportation officials have previously approved the Cybercab’s operation in Austin, though the two-seater Cybercabs remain limited primarily to Austin for now.
The Bottom Line
Tesla has expanded its unsupervised Robotaxi network to San Antonio with a record-breaking initial geofence size, excluding airport rides despite their inclusion in the operational zone. The company has stated ambitions for broader 24/7 operations by the end of 2026 as vehicle counts and software reliability improve.
