Episode 528: Robotaxi Gearing Up to Launch in 2 More States
Ride the Lightning: Tesla and EV Podcast
Ryan McCaffrey
4.7 • 1K Ratings
🗓️ 14 September 2025
⏱️ 92 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
On this week's episode of Ride the Lightning: The Tesla and EV Podcast, new evidence suggests Tesla's Robotaxi network is about to roll out in two more southwestern US states. Plus: using non-Tesla chargers is about to get easier for Tesla owners in a new pilot program, Tesla Energy unveils the Megablock, and more!
If you enjoy the podcast and would like to support my efforts, please check out my Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/teslapodcast and consider a monthly or (10% discounted!) annual pledge. Every little bit helps and there are stacking bonuses in it for you at each pledge level, like early access to each episode at the $5 tier and the weekly Lightning Round bonus mini-episode (AND the early access!) at the $10 tier! And NO ADS at every Patreon tier!
Also, don't forget to leave a message on the Ride the Lightning hotline anytime with a question, comment, or discussion topic for next week's show! The toll-free number to call is 1-888-989-8752.
INTERESTED IN A FLEXIBLE EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR YOUR TESLA? Be a part of the future of transportation with XCare, the first extended warranty designed & built exclusively for EV owners, by EV owners. Use the code Lightning to get $100 off their "One-time Payment" option! Go to www.xcelerateauto.com/xcare to find the extended warranty policy that's right for you and your Tesla.
P.S. Get 15% off your first order of awesome aftermarket Tesla accessories at AbstractOcean.com by using the code RTLpodcast at checkout. Grab the SnapPlate front license plate bracket for any Tesla at https://everyamp.com/RTL/ (don't forget the coupon code RTL too!).
BONUS: If you're in or going to be in the greater San Francisco Bay Area, bring your car to be professionally detailed at Immaculate Reflections! They're offering a Summer special: $200 off of any paint correction service, $500 off of any ceramic coating package, and 15% off of any PPF package. Check out his website at irdetailing.com
Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | On this week's episode of Ride the Lightning, the Tesla and EV podcast, new evidence suggests Tesla's Robotaxy Network is about to roll out in two more southwestern U.S. states. |
| 0:12.2 | Plus, using non-Tesla chargers is about to get easier for Tesla owners in a new pilot program. |
| 0:19.4 | Tesla Energy unveils the Mega Block and more. What's happening, friends? |
| 0:43.9 | I'm Ryan McCaffrey alongside Daisy the Boxer and Lily, the giant baby Labrador. |
| 0:49.4 | She's up to 58 pounds. |
| 0:52.0 | This is Ride the Lightning, your weekly Tesla and EV podcast publishing on September 14th, |
| 0:59.0 | 2015. |
| 1:00.1 | I'm recording it as usual on Friday evening here, September 12th. |
| 1:04.7 | Well, hopefully you won't be able to tell over the course of the episode, but I am exhausted |
| 1:10.2 | today. I got up at 5 a.m. on purpose to |
| 1:14.2 | pre-order the new iPhone. It's the first new phone I've gotten in five years. I'm like, |
| 1:19.8 | all right, it's time, and I guess I want it on launch day, so I better get up right at the |
| 1:24.3 | pre-order time. And sure enough, it was some pre-order chaos. So, uh, that's done. |
| 1:30.8 | At least that's all secured. But I couldn't get back to sleep. I thought, okay, I can just get up, |
| 1:35.9 | pre-order it, go back to sleep. Didn't happen. So here we are. I'm running on fumes, but hopefully |
| 1:43.0 | you won't be able to tell. |
| 1:45.0 | No, I've got enough energy for Ride the Lightning because I always have a blast doing this podcast. |
| 1:50.3 | And you all are so super supportive. So let's get started. |
| 1:55.5 | First up this week is the headline story. |
| 1:58.7 | This should not surprise any of you who've been following along with all of this in the last |
| 2:03.7 | number of weeks and months. |
| 2:05.4 | But it looks like we know the next two markets that Tesla's Robotaxi Network will be |
... |
Please login to see the full transcript.
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Ryan McCaffrey, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.
Generated transcripts are the property of Ryan McCaffrey and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.
Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.