Tesla has posted job openings for Robotaxi vehicle operators in Colorado and Illinois, signaling plans to expand its autonomous ride-hailing service. The listings appear in Aurora, near Denver, and Chicago, following recent validation testing in Arizona. This move aligns with CEO Elon Musk's goal to reach half the U.S. population by year-end.
Tesla launched its Robotaxi service in Austin, Texas, in late June 2025, marking the start of public rides without drivers. A month later, the company expanded operations to the San Francisco Bay Area in California. Since then, Tesla has secured approvals for early testing in additional states but has not yet offered public rides elsewhere.
To prepare for further growth, Tesla often posts job listings ahead of regulatory approvals, enabling quick staffing upon licensing. For instance, the company began hiring Vehicle Operators for Autopilot in Arizona and Nevada months before obtaining testing licenses from state governments. These licenses allow validation work prior to public launches.
Recently, Tesla added job postings for Vehicle Operators for Autopilot in two new states: Colorado and Illinois. The Colorado listing is based in Aurora, a suburb of Denver, while the Illinois posting targets Chicago. As of now, Tesla has active job listings in Arizona, California, Texas, Florida, Colorado, Nevada, and Illinois.
These developments coincide with ongoing validation efforts. On October 11, 2025, two Robotaxi units equipped with LiDAR validation gear were spotted in Gilbert, Arizona. The next day, October 12, another unit was seen in Tempe, Arizona, with reports of pairs driving from Mesa to Tempe, indicating coverage of the east valley area.
Earlier this year, CEO Elon Musk stated that Tesla aims to make Robotaxi available to at least half of the U.S. population by the end of 2025. While progress has been made since the June launch, the service remains limited compared to these ambitions, with expansion efforts ongoing through testing and hiring.