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Reports from industry observers indicate that Tesla's fleet in Austin has grown from around 15 to an estimated 35 vehicles as of July, with some sources suggesting numbers could reach up to 50 vehicles in operation by the weekend. Similar scaling in San Francisco is anticipated, with projections pointing toward a fleet of 200 to 300 vehicles by late August. This fleet size would be essential to meet the demands of full city coverage, moving beyond initial pilot zones.
Commentators emphasize that these expansion efforts are less about introducing entirely new licensing or regulatory hurdles and more about accumulating sufficient miles to satisfy regulatory safety thresholds—reportedly around 50,000 miles—before seeking further authorization to operate without supervised drivers.