Tesla expands robotaxi geofence in Austin with validation vehicles

Are you ready for the next step in the robotaxi geofence development? Tesla is currently testing the expansion of its robotaxi geofence in Austin, Texas, and is sending numerous validation vehicles onto the streets – including a Cybertruck for the first time. Find out why the urban downtown of Austin is the target of the tests and how LiDAR data is advancing Tesla's vision-only approach.

Geofence Expansion into the Urban Center

Tesla plans to expand its existing robotaxi geofence from the outskirts deep into the dense downtown of Austin. Until now, the test area was limited to less complex environments; now, heavily trafficked streets and the famous South Congress Bridge are also being driven. This expansion is an important milestone to make robotaxis fit for real big city challenges.

Validation Fleet and Cybertruck Premiere

The fleet of test vehicles is currently dominated by Model Ys with various sensor rigs. Newly added is a Cybertruck validation vehicle:

Dual LiDAR rigs (short & tall)
Camera sensors on the roof
Testing FSD builds in HW4 vehicles

The use of the Cybertruck suggests that Tesla simultaneously wants to close the FSD gap between the futuristic pickup and the other HW4 models.

LiDAR as “Ground Truth” for Vision-only

Although Tesla officially adheres to a pure camera solution, the company uses LiDAR data as a reference standard. The validation vehicles measure distances with LiDAR and compare them with the vision estimates. This allows camera algorithms to be optimized and validated without direct use of LiDAR in series production.

New App Feature: Selectable Pickup Points

Parallel to the driving tests, the recently integrated selectable pickup points of the robotaxi app are expected to be validated. Scouting for these locations is part of the comprehensive data collection process to make the future on-demand service more user-friendly.

Outlook: Expansion This Month?

Insiders expect that the robotaxi geofence -Expansion in Austin will officially come into effect in the coming days or weeks. However, more test scenarios in the city center and more robotaxis on the streets will be seen beforehand. With the larger area, the necessary fleet size and the number of early-access customers increase to reduce waiting times.

Significance for the Robotaxi Future

Tesla's goal is clear: By the end of 2025, they want to roll out the robotaxi network in several US cities. The current Austin expansion is a central step for this. By including the Cybertruck in the validation program, Tesla ensures that all vehicle types and hardware versions are brought to the same high FSD level.

Conclusion
The expansion of the robotaxi geofence in Austin marks the next major advancement for Tesla's autonomous mobility strategy. With LiDAR-triggered vision tests and the inclusion of the Cybertruck, Tesla proves that they make no compromises - neither in technology nor in location choice.