Tesla Expands Robotaxi to Dallas and Houston
Tesla has begun offering its robotaxi service in Dallas and Houston. The company shared the news through a social media post that reads, "Robotaxi is now rolling out in Dallas & Houston 🤠". That announcement came with a 14-second video clip. It shows Tesla vehicles moving along roads without any human monitors or drivers in the front seats.
Growth in Texas Markets
This move brings Tesla's fully driverless robotaxi operations to three cities, all located in Texas. The service first started in Austin last year. Tesla removed the need for safety drivers there in January 2026. Before this expansion, Austin stood as the main hub for unsupervised rides. Dallas and Houston now join that effort, pushing Tesla's autonomous ride-hailing further across the state.
Safety Record and Other Operations
Tesla disclosed details on its Austin operations in a February filing. That document noted 14 crashes involving robotaxis since the launch. Such incidents draw attention to the challenges of full autonomy on public roads. Regulators and safety advocates often review these reports closely.
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Outside Texas, Tesla runs a more restricted ride service in the San Francisco Bay Area. There, human drivers still ride along for safety. This setup differs from the unsupervised model in Texas cities. The Bay Area program serves as a testing ground amid stricter California rules on autonomous vehicles.
Fleet Tracking and Scale
Early signs suggest a cautious rollout in the new cities. Data from the Robotaxi Tracker website, which relies on user reports, shows just one vehicle active in Dallas and one in Houston. Austin, by contrast, logs 46 active vehicles. These numbers come from crowdsourced observations, giving a real-time but unofficial view of operations.
Tesla did not specify plans for fleet growth or rider access details in the post. Users in Dallas and Houston can likely request rides via the Tesla app, similar to Austin. The company continues to refine its Full Self-Driving software, which powers these robotaxis. Past updates have improved handling of complex urban driving.
This expansion aligns with Tesla's push to scale robotaxi services nationwide. Texas offers favorable regulations for autonomous testing compared to other states. Success here could pave the way for broader deployment.