Tesla Robotaxi expansion in Texas: Self-driving test cars spotted near Dallas

Tesla has been operating its Robotaxi service in multiple cities in the US. Plano, a smaller city in Texas, might be joining the list, after a test vehicle was spotted there.

According to a post by @InnovatingCoin on X, Robotaxi test vehicles were recently seen in action in Plano. The post included pictures of two test cars on the road, with the caption: ‘Robotaxi might be here soon’.

The sighting matters because the presence of Robotaxi test vehicles suggests an impending launch. Plano is located just northeast of Dallas, the third-most populous city in Texas.

These validation cars are equipped with LiDAR rigs for scanning the surroundings. LiDAR helps Tesla to map new regions and double-check the accuracy of its self-driving system before a wider rollout. The company follows a similar process before launching new versions of its Full Self-Driving (FSD) software.

Lately, Tesla has been focusing on expanding its Robotaxi service into new states and cities. It recently secured regulatory approval to test in Arizona and Nevada. If Plano joins the lineup, it would mark the first time Tesla expands into another city within the same state, rather than branching out only to new states.