Tesla Unsupervised Robotaxi Miami Field Report

Key Tesla Unsupervised Robotaxi Miami Field Report Findings

Tesla Unsupervised Robotaxi Miami Field Report

We were in Miami for Robotaxi Miami launch day and successfully secured our first ride at the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables. During almost a dozen rides over two days, we noticed signals that Tesla has grand ambitions for the Miami market and they are actively preparing to expand the service area and ramp up service.

Miami is the third market where we have ridden in an unsupervised Robotaxi after Austin and Houston.

Robotaxi Miami Launch Day

Getting a ride on launch day required a lot of patience as we encountered multiple high service demand messages, several cancellations and one which we believe was caused by a lightning storm as Waymo went temporarily offline at the moment, but we persevered, never gave up, and secured a ride.

Based on license plate counts shown to us in the Robotaxi app, we believe that there were only two Robotaxis in operation on launch day in Miami. The vehicles operated in a suburban area of Miami stretching from Coral Gables to Doral in the northwest.

The Staging Lot: Dozens of Cybercabs

Two days after launch, David Moss joined us as we visited the location where Tesla launches robotaxis in Miami and a staging lot on the fringe of Miami International Airport (MIA). On launch day we counted three Cybercabs. Two days later, we counted a couple dozen Cybercabs, all with Florida plates, along with roughly a dozen Model Y Robotaxis.

The defining factor of this site as a potential long-term staging hub for the Miami market is the location.

Location: The staging lot sits on the fringe of Miami International Airport, roughly two miles from the main airport entrance and three miles from Waymo’s airport depot that is still under construction. The synergies of airport-adjacent real estate are clear, and the proximity to a direct competitor’s depot is not a coincidence.

The Ride: Smooth Through the Flooded Streets

The ride quality in Miami was the best we have experienced across the three markets we have been in (Austin, Houston, and Miami), operating noticeably smoother than Houston. The service area felt very similar to Houston, raising the question of whether Tesla is deploying a standardized deployment template as it enters new markets.

The vehicle demonstrated strong real-time judgment throughout all of our rides. When an ambulance approached from behind with sirens on, the Robotaxi pulled to the right lane and came to a full, complete stop. It drove through two deeply flooded stretches of road at a steady eight miles per hour without hesitation.

When a piece of bark fell from a tree onto the parking lot, the vehicle held its position for four minutes and 45 seconds before driving over it, with no remote takeover required. A little longer than we would have liked, but no manual intervention.

The Bug: Unable to Start Your Ride

Nearly every time we tried to start the ride, the vehicle displayed an error stating it was unable to start the ride and directed us to contact support. We pressed the support button, and support sent us on our way. Unsure what caused this issue, but it is something to mention as it happened in 98% of all the rides we took.

Strategic Geography

Tesla’s Miami deployment was extremely small, with only two vehicles in service on day one, but the assets tell a bigger story. A staging lot with dozens of Cybercabs and roughly a dozen Model Y robotaxis on the fringe of Miami International Airport is not a coincidence. It’s a sign that Tesla has big plans for the Miami robotaxi market.