Tesla plans to nearly double the number of its robotaxis in Austin, Texas, next month, CEO Elon Musk announced on X. The move comes amid growing demand and user complaints about long wait times and limited availability since the service opened to the public earlier this month. Musk stated that the fleet size in Austin should “roughly double” in December, less than six months after the robotaxi service launched in June. Tesla’s autonomous ride-hailing service in Austin currently operates with human safety monitors seated in the passenger seat, ensuring oversight during autonomous rides. The company also launched a similar service in San Francisco a month later, though that operation still requires a human driver ready to take control at any time due to regulatory restrictions. Despite these limitations, Tesla is pushing forward with its vision of a fully self-driving future. Musk has set an aggressive timeline, telling investors last month that Tesla aims to have self-driving taxis operating in eight to ten U.S. metropolitan areas by the end of 2024. In Austin, the company is targeting a fleet of 500 robotaxis by year-end, while aiming for 1,000 vehicles in the Bay Area. Although Tesla has not disclosed the exact number of active robotaxis in Austin, a community tracker run by local observer Ethan McKenna estimates around 29 distinct vehicles are currently in service. The recent removal of the waitlist for the robotaxi app has led to a surge in user sign-ups, overwhelming the existing fleet and resulting in longer wait times and vehicle shortages. Musk acknowledged the strain on the system, attributing the issue to soaring demand from enthusiastic Tesla fans. Despite these operational challenges, Tesla continues to expand rapidly. The company recently cleared key regulatory hurdles in Nevada and Arizona, paving the way for broader deployment in those states. To support its growth, Tesla is also conducting a significant hiring spree, recruiting engineers, operations staff, and safety personnel. The robotaxi rollout is a critical component of Musk’s broader strategy to accelerate the adoption of full self-driving technology. Tesla’s vehicles rely on advanced neural networks trained on vast amounts of real-world driving data collected from its fleet of consumer vehicles. The robotaxi service serves both as a testing ground and a revenue-generating pilot for autonomous rides. While the Austin service remains in a transitional phase with safety monitors, Tesla’s long-term goal is to eliminate the need for human oversight entirely. The company believes that scaling its autonomous fleet will improve AI performance and accelerate the path to fully driverless operation. The upcoming fleet expansion in Austin is expected to ease congestion and improve access for users. However, regulatory scrutiny and public safety concerns remain central challenges as Tesla pushes forward with its autonomous ambitions. Tesla did not respond to a request for comment outside regular business hours. As the company races toward Musk’s end-of-year targets, the success of its robotaxi initiative will be closely watched by investors, regulators, and the broader public. The outcome could influence the future of autonomous transportation and set a precedent for how AI-driven mobility services are regulated and adopted across the United States.