Tesla’s Robotaxi Expansion to Saudi Arabia Confirmed by Elon Musk
During the Saudi-U.S. Investment Forum on Tuesday, Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced that the company’s Robotaxi platform will ultimately be introduced in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This marks a significant move toward establishing a driverless vehicle fleet beyond the United States.
This is the first instance where Musk explicitly confirmed Tesla’s plans to venture into Saudi Arabia. However, it aligns with the company’s broader strategy focused on global operations rather than limiting the Robotaxi platform to Western markets.
At the Investment Forum, where a $600 billion investment agreement was discussed between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia, Musk noted that the Robotaxi would eventually be rolled out in the country. Although he did not provide a specific timeline, Tesla is preparing to launch the Robotaxi in Austin, Texas, this coming June.
“You can really consider cars, or future cars, as robots on four wheels. I think having autonomous vehicles here in the Kingdom will be very exciting, if you’re open to it,” Musk stated.
🚨 Tesla Robotaxi will be available in Saudi Arabia, Elon Musk confirms: “You heard it here from Elon! He’s bringing Robotaxi to the Kingdom.” pic.twitter.com/3IeaZezYb8
— TESLARATI (@Teslarati) May 13, 2025
As Tesla’s Full Self-Driving suite is still under supervision, the company is expanding its reach globally. Earlier this year, it debuted in China, receiving positive feedback for its driver assistance features.
Tesla is also planning to expand into Europe later this year, although it is pending regulatory approval from EU authorities, a process expected to take some time. Notably, the Robotaxi concept is not limited to a single vehicle model, like the Cybercab; rather, it could encompass any Tesla car capable of unsupervised Full Self-Driving. This will require collaboration with local authorities to first implement a supervised version, paving the way for a robust Robotaxi network in Saudi Arabia.
Tesla’s relationship with the Middle East appears strong, highlighted by the recent launch of the Cybertruck in Saudi Arabia, with customer orders starting last month. Additionally, Musk’s Starlink has received approval for maritime and aviation applications, further deepening the collaboration with the Kingdom, as noted during the Investment Forum.
