Tesla’s long-awaited Robotaxi app has officially landed on Apple’s App Store, but riders aren’t able to jump in just yet. Instead, Tesla has placed the service behind a waitlist while it continues to roll out gradually across the U.S.
This is likely the first of several steps before Tesla opens its Robotaxi service to the general public.
Wait List
While iPhone users can download the Robotaxi app now, they’re still not able to use the service. New users can join a waitlist, which Tesla is presumably using to manage demand. If Tesla suddenly opens up the service to everyone, it could lead to a subpar experience as new users rush out to try out the service. We expect Tesla to expand its fleet and gradually admit more users at the same time.
App Availability
The app is currently only available in the Apple App Store, but we expect this to be expanded to Android in the near future. The app is coded in React Native, which allows it to be compiled for both Android and iOS. Therefore, Tesla is likely limiting it to iOS to iterate on changes more quickly and avoid submitting it to multiple app stores during this period.
Currently, the app is also limited to the United States, so users in other regions unfortunately won’t be able to download it. It’s not clear whether this will change any time soon since the service is only available in the United States.
Update: The Robotaxi app is now available in Canada.
Tesla recently released a new version of the Robotaxi app, version 25.8.10. This version that’s available to testers is the same one that’s available in the app store.
Update: Tesla has updated only the test version of the Robotaxi app, available to invited users, to version 25.9.10. This version adds improved notifications, hints at an Android release, and more.
Topping the Charts
While the Tesla Robotaxi app only hit the App Store last night, it’s already topping several charts. It’s near the top in the overall top free apps section for iOS, and it’s currently the number one Travel app in the App Store.
However, it should be noted that this doesn’t mean the Robotaxi app is now more popular than Uber. Apple creates these charts based on downloads over a certain time period, which is essentially velocity. This means that new apps that users are excited about will hit the top of the charts much more easily than popular apps that already have a large user base. Nonetheless, it’s exciting to see Tesla at the top of the charts here.
App Requirements
Beyond the platform and geographical requirements, Tesla requires the use of iOS 18 to use the app. iOS 18 was released last September and is compatible with the iPhone XR and newer models.
While the TestFlight version of the app also allowed it to be run on Macs, Vision Pro, and iPad, the public app is being limited to just iOS. For comparison, the Tesla app is allowed to run on iPhone, Apple Vision Pro and supports the Apple Watch.
While the Tesla app comes in at a hefty 759 MB, the Robotaxi app, which uses a lot of the same code as the Tesla app, comes in much lighter, at 279 MB.
Service Availability
The service is currently only available in the Bay Area as a ride-hailing service with a driver in the driver’s seat, and in Austin as an autonomous service with a monitor in the passenger seat. The one exception is with the introduction of highway use in Austin, where Tesla has also added a safety driver.
If you use an iPhone and are located in the U.S., head over to the App Store and download the Robotaxi app.
