Tesla has expanded its robotaxi service to parts of western Miami in the United States.

According to IT outlet Engadget on July 4, Tesla said on X that it had started robotaxi operations in a limited area of Miami.

The service expansion followed a similar approach to when it launched robotaxis in Dallas and Houston earlier this year. Tesla limited the initial operating area to outside congested downtown districts. In Miami, too, service remained confined to a small part of West Miami rather than the entire city.

The way the service operates is drawing attention. Videos posted on X showed users riding in Tesla robotaxis operating without supervising staff. The absence of an in-car safety worker is drawing particular notice. Tesla previously faced controversy in Austin, Texas, when it first launched an autonomous ride-hailing service over whether vehicles carried an in-car safety worker. This time, vehicles in Miami were also seen operating without a safety monitor.

The service area is likely to remain limited for the time being. Tesla earlier started operations from areas outside downtown in Dallas and Houston as well. With a precedent of expanding operations to the entire Austin metropolitan area last month, there is also discussion that Miami could see a broader service area later.

Tesla's choice of Miami comes against a backdrop of an already established autonomous ride-hailing market. Waymo has operated an autonomous robotaxi service in Miami since January. Amazon-affiliated autonomous driving company Zoox is also targeting expansion in Miami and began vehicle test runs for employees this year. Miami is effectively becoming a testing ground where multiple operators compete.

Against that backdrop, Tesla's latest move is seen as part of a push to expand its foothold for autonomous ride-hailing services in major cities in the U.S. South, rather than a simple addition of another location. Tesla has also laid out plans to expand robotaxis to more U.S. cities. Its roadmap includes Phoenix and Las Vegas, as well as Orlando and Tampa in Florida.

There are two key points to watch. One is whether the Miami service, which began in a limited area, will expand to the entire city or metropolitan area as it did in Austin. The other is whether Tesla can secure competitiveness with an operation that has no in-car safety staff in a market where Waymo and Zoox are already moving. Miami is increasingly likely to become a test bed for Tesla's nationwide robotaxi expansion strategy.

¿Qué lo que Miami? Robotaxi now available in Miami pic.twitter.com/P1m283seZU