Key Takeaways
- Tesla operates only 42 approved autonomous vehicles across Texas per latest DMV records
- Waymo maintains 577 robotaxis in Texas — exceeding Tesla’s fleet by more than 1,300%
- Nebius-owned Avride registered 317 vehicles, Nuro listed 47, and Zoox from Amazon claimed 35
- Elon Musk previously forecasted 1,000 Tesla robotaxis just months after initial deployment
- Government documents reveal 17 safety incidents with Tesla’s Austin fleet from July 2025 through April 2026
Recently published state Department of Motor Vehicles data reveals Tesla currently has authorization for 42 autonomous ridehail vehicles throughout Texas, while Waymo operates 577 units.
Starting Thursday, a newly enacted Texas statute mandates autonomous vehicle companies conducting tests or providing services within state borders to report fleet numbers and safety information to the Department of Motor Vehicles. This legislation established Texas’s first publicly accessible database tracking autonomous vehicle operations.
Alphabet‘s autonomous driving division, Waymo, dominates the state’s official registry with significant superiority. The company’s 577 registered units represent over thirteen times Tesla’s entire Texas fleet.
Tesla ranks below multiple competitors with smaller operations. Nebius subsidiary Avride documented 317 autonomous vehicles. Nuro’s registration totaled 47 units. Amazon-backed Zoox reported 35 vehicles.
Autonomous Vehicle Fleet Breakdown Across Texas
Prior to this legislative change, Texas imposed minimal requirements on autonomous vehicle companies—mainly basic liability coverage, onboard recording devices, and traffic law compliance. Current regulations impose significantly higher standards.
Operators must now provide self-certification confirming their vehicles achieve SAE Level 4 autonomy — defined as systems capable of managing standard driving scenarios completely independently without human intervention.
Waymo’s technology has satisfied this benchmark for considerable time. Tesla’s certification documentation prompts concerns. Historical regulatory submissions from Tesla categorized the majority of its vehicles as Level 2 driver-assistance technology. The automaker hasn’t clarified its methodology for certifying Texas vehicles as Level 4. Tesla declined to provide comment when contacted.
Tesla initiated its Austin robotaxi program in June 2025, originally deploying safety supervisors in every vehicle. Those human monitors were eliminated in January 2026. Operations subsequently extended into Dallas and Houston markets.
Independent monitoring information suggests approximately 30 vehicles currently operate without drivers in Austin. The balance of 12 units are distributed between Dallas and Houston deployments.
Earlier Projections from Musk
Ahead of the Austin program launch, Tesla CEO Elon Musk informed CNBC the company would deploy 1,000 vehicles within several months. He subsequently assured investors that Austin independently would feature 500 robotaxis prior to 2025’s conclusion. Both projections remain unfulfilled.
Federal safety documentation spanning July 2025 to April 2026 logged 17 incidents with Tesla’s Austin robotaxi operations. Two incidents caused minor injuries. Another necessitated emergency room treatment. All three events happened with human supervisors present in the vehicles.
Waymo initiated Texas operations during March 2025 via collaboration with Uber. The company currently provides commercial robotaxi service throughout Austin, Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio.
Across the United States, Waymo’s commercial robotaxi operations encompass approximately 4,000 vehicles — establishing substantially broader coverage than Tesla both within Texas and nationwide.
