Tesla’s robotaxi service in Austin, Texas, faces significant operational challenges according to recent tests and public filings. Users report wait times of up to 30 minutes and periods where booking was unavailable. Inefficient pickup locations and technical failures, including a vehicle that failed to start, further hindered performance.
Public filings reveal the Austin fleet consists of only 59 vehicles. A CFRA analyst noted this number falls below even bearish expectations for the service. These real-world results contrast with Tesla’s ambitious growth targets for its autonomous network.
The operational difficulties highlight potential scaling delays that could impact Tesla’s future valuation. These findings fuel existing skepticism among analysts regarding Tesla’s self-driving capabilities relative to competitors like Waymo.