Key Takeaways
- Texas DMV records reveal Tesla operates only 42 autonomous vehicles authorized for ridehailing services
- Waymo commands a fleet of 577 robotaxis in Texas — exceeding Tesla’s deployment by over 1,300%
- Avride, a Nebius subsidiary, operates 317 vehicles, while Nuro runs 47 and Amazon’s Zoox maintains 35
- Elon Musk’s earlier forecast of 1,000 vehicles within months remains unfulfilled
- Federal safety reports document 17 incidents with Tesla’s Austin robotaxis from July 2025 through April 2026
Recent state Department of Motor Vehicles filings reveal that Tesla maintains just 42 autonomous vehicles cleared for ridehailing operations in Texas, while Waymo operates 577 — a difference of more than thirteen-fold.
A recently enacted Texas statute that became effective this week mandates autonomous vehicle companies conducting tests or commercial operations within the state to register fleet sizes and submit safety documentation to the DMV. This legislation established Texas’s first publicly accessible autonomous vehicle database.
Waymo, Alphabet’s autonomous driving division, dominates the state’s official registry with a commanding lead. The company’s 577 registered autonomous vehicles represent more than thirteen times the quantity deployed by Tesla.
Tesla’s presence trails not only Waymo but also several emerging competitors. Avride, under Nebius ownership, documented 317 vehicles in state filings. Nuro’s registration totals 47 vehicles. Amazon’s autonomous subsidiary Zoox reported 35 vehicles.
Texas Autonomous Vehicle Landscape
Prior to this legislative change, Texas maintained minimal regulatory requirements for autonomous vehicle operators — primarily basic liability coverage, onboard recording equipment, and traffic law compliance. The updated framework introduces more comprehensive oversight.
Operators must now self-certify their vehicles achieve SAE Level 4 autonomous capability — the classification for systems capable of managing standard driving scenarios completely independently without human intervention.
Waymo’s fleet has satisfied this benchmark for an extended period. Tesla’s certification status prompts scrutiny. In previous regulatory submissions, Tesla categorized the majority of its vehicles as Level 2 advanced driver-assistance systems. The company has not clarified its methodology for certifying Texas vehicles at Level 4 standards. Tesla did not provide a response to inquiries.
Tesla initiated its robotaxi program in Austin during June 2025, initially deploying safety operators in all vehicles. The company discontinued using safety monitors in January 2026. Operations have subsequently extended to Dallas and Houston markets.
Independent monitoring data indicates approximately 30 of these vehicles function in fully autonomous mode in Austin. The remaining 12 units are distributed between Dallas and Houston operations.
Earlier Projections from Musk
Ahead of the Austin deployment, Tesla CEO Elon Musk stated in a CNBC interview that the fleet would scale to 1,000 vehicles within several months. He subsequently informed investors that Austin alone would host 500 robotaxis prior to the conclusion of 2025. Both projections went unrealized.
Federal safety documentation spanning July 2025 to April 2026 catalogued 17 incidents involving Tesla’s Austin robotaxis. Two incidents produced minor injuries. A third necessitated hospital transport. All three injury events occurred with a human safety operator present in the vehicle.
Waymo initiated Texas operations in March 2025 via a strategic alliance with Uber. The company currently provides commercial robotaxi services across Austin, Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio.
On a national scale, Waymo’s commercial robotaxi network encompasses approximately 4,000 vehicles — establishing a substantially larger operational footprint than Tesla both within Texas and throughout the United States.
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