Tesla is extending the hours of its Bay Area ride-hailing service, giving passengers more late-night options. The electric automaker confirmed that its Robotaxi fleet will now run from 6 a.m. until 2 a.m., adding two extra hours to the daily schedule.
Previously, the service stopped at midnight, limiting access for riders after late-night events, restaurant visits, or late shifts. By extending operations to 20 hours per day, Tesla is both addressing rider demand and showcasing its confidence in the readiness of its supervised Robotaxi fleet.
Bay Area ride-hailing service now runs until 2am
— Tesla AI (@Tesla_AI) September 13, 2025
Launched as a Limited Pilot
Tesla’s Bay Area Robotaxi service officially launched earlier this year, just week after the company’s first commercial deployment of its autonomous ride-hailing platform in Austin, Texas. Initially, the program was available to a small group of Tesla owners and select customers, covering key areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, but has since expanded to a wider group.
The service is operated through Tesla’s existing mobile app, where customers can request a ride much like they would with Uber or Lyft. The difference, of course, is that Tesla is working to replace human drivers with vehicles equipped with its Full Self-Driving (FSD) system.
Why There’s Still a Safety Driver
Despite branding the program as “Robotaxi,” Tesla’s service in the Bay Area is called a ride-hailing service. This is because each Tesla vehicle still has a safety driver behind the wheel, due to differing regulatory requirement in California, where fully driverless deployment permits remain tightly controlled. The safety driver is there to intervene in case of unexpected road conditions or technical issues, ensuring compliance with state law and public safety standards.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk has repeatedly emphasized that the ultimate goal is to remove drivers altogether. However, the company has taken a gradual approach, using supervised operation to gather data, refine FSD software, and build regulatory trust.
Expanding Robotaxi
The extension of hours comes as Tesla continues to push forward with its broader Robotaxi strategy. Earlier this week, the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles granted Tesla approval to begin testing fully autonomous vehicles on public roads without a driver in the seat.
Tesla is also seeking approval to begin servicing Bay Area airports.
