Israel may soon become one of the first countries outside the United States to host a Tesla robotaxi pilot, according to comments made this week by Moshe Ben Zaken, Director General of the Ministry of Transportation.
While speaking at an energy and infrastructure conference in Ramat Gan, Ben Zaken said Tesla will carry out a trial of autonomous taxis in the country, calling it a “first-of-its-kind” pilot. (via The Marker)
Tesla has not confirmed any robotaxi pilot programs outside of the U.S. and has not officially announced plans to expand testing internationally. The official also did not reveal the timing of the potential robotaxi pilot.
The company currently runs a fleet of robotaxis in Austin, Texas, and operates a ride-hailing service in California’s Bay Area from San Francisco to San Jose.
Why Israel?
Israel has one of the most advanced regulatory frameworks for autonomous vehicles outside the U.S., allowing companies to conduct trials with a safety driver present. That legal groundwork could make it an attractive testing ground for Tesla as it moves closer to deploying its long-promised robotaxi service.
Tesla’s growing presence in Israel adds weight to the possibility of a robotaxi trial. The company recently delivered its 30,000th vehicle in the country in just over three years, highlighting the strong demand for its cars in the Middle East. That rapid adoption rate places Israel among Tesla’s most enthusiastic international markets, making it a prime candidate for testing next-generation services such as autonomous ride-hailing.
Delivered our 30,000th car in Israel pic.twitter.com/dvgq9DUXM0
— Tesla Europe & Middle East (@teslaeurope) September 16, 2025
Israel’s Transportation Minister Miri Regev has also played a role in advancing ties with the automaker. During a visit to Tesla’s Giga Berlin earlier this year, she extended an invitation for the company to establish an “innovation hub” in Israel.
While Israel could become Tesla’s first international test site for autonomous taxis, the company is also preparing for expansions closer to home. In the U.S., Nevada granted Tesla permission to conduct autonomous vehicle trials earlier this month.
Based on comments from CEO Elon Musk during the company’s Q2 2025 earnings earlier this year, the company hopes to have autonomous ride-hailing in “probably half the population of the U.S. by the end of the year… assuming we have regulatory approvals.” Following through on that aggressive timeline, Tesla has published numerous job postings seeking Vehicle Operators in Texas, Florida, New York, Nevada, California, and Arizona.
