Tesla to Offer Robotaxis During Service Instead of Loaners

Leaving a car at a Tesla service center for repairs that take several hours can make getting home uncertain. Tesla aims to provide free loaner vehicles when appointments run long, but centers often exhaust their loaner fleets. When that happens, staff typically issue Uber vouchers or customers end up without alternate transportation.

This stopgap approach appears poised to change. References found in Tesla app update version 4.60.5 suggest Tesla plans to use its commercial Robotaxi network to move service customers, replacing reliance on loaners or third-party rideshare providers.

Assets and strings in the app point to a new screen for choosing alternative transportation:

Your default transportation method is selected. If you’d prefer an alternative form of transportation, please select it below. We’ll do our best to accommodate your preference based on availability and scheduling.

Cutting Service Costs With Autonomous Fleets

Integrating autonomous rides with service visits streamlines logistics. Dedicated loaner inventories occupy vehicle stock at service centers, and purchasing Uber credits for customers is an ongoing expense.

Shifting customers to autonomous vehicles keeps them mobile at a fraction of the cost.

The app’s code also points to multiple alternative transport options alongside Robotaxi rides, including:

sv_transport_robotaxi (Robotaxi)
sv_transport_paid_loaner (Paid Loaner)
sv_transport_e_bike (E-Bike)
sv_transport_bolt (Bolt)

Providing an e-bike option or a paid loaner would give commuters more flexibility. The mention of Bolt is unclear; it likely does not refer to the Chevy Bolt and may indicate the European ride-hailing platform, potentially serving as an international alternative to Uber credits.

Likely Launching First in Austin

Tesla has not announced when Robotaxi rides will be enabled for service visits, but rollout will likely track existing autonomous operating areas.

Tesla’s Robotaxi service currently operates in seven major metro areas: Austin, Dallas, Houston, Miami, Orlando, Tampa, and the Bay Area.

The timing aligns with Cybercabs officially joining the Robotaxi fleet in Austin last week, bringing lower-cost public trips in two-seat vehicles after a dedicated launch event in the city.

Since Austin is the primary testbed for much of the Robotaxi network, service centers near Giga Texas are likely to be the first to provide driverless rides home while vehicles are being serviced.