Israel may become one of the first countries outside the United States to host a Tesla robotaxi pilot, a senior government official said this week, signaling the company’s potential expansion of its autonomous ride-hailing ambitions.
Speaking at an energy and infrastructure conference in Ramat Gan, Moshe Ben Zaken, Director General of the Ministry of Transportation, said Tesla is preparing to carry out a trial of autonomous taxis in Israel. He described it as a “first-of-its-kind” pilot, according to local media outlet The Marker.
Tesla has not confirmed any robotaxi programs outside the United States and has not officially announced plans to expand international testing. Ben Zaken also did not provide details on the scope or timing of the potential trial.
Israel has built one of the most advanced regulatory environments for autonomous vehicles outside the U.S., permitting companies to conduct tests with a safety driver present. That framework, coupled with Tesla’s rising presence in the country — including 30,000 vehicle deliveries in just over three years — could make Israel an attractive candidate for early deployment.
Transportation Minister Miri Regev has also sought closer ties with the automaker. During a visit to Tesla’s Giga Berlin earlier this year, she invited the company to establish an “innovation hub” in Israel.
Tesla currently operates a robotaxi fleet in Austin, Texas, and runs a ride-hailing service in California’s Bay Area. In the U.S., the company has also secured testing approval in Nevada and has posted openings for vehicle operators in multiple states.
CEO Elon Musk told investors in July that Tesla aims to expand its autonomous ride-hailing network rapidly. “Probably half the population of the U.S. by the end of the year… assuming we have regulatory approvals,” Musk said during the company’s second-quarter earnings call.