Tesla Launches 'Robotaxi' Service in Dallas and Houston with Tiny Geofences

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Tesla has announced the launch of its 'Robotaxi' service in Dallas and Houston, but with small geofences of around 25 square miles in each city and no details on fleet size or safety metrics, the expansion trails Waymo's existing Texas operations which already have a presence in both cities with a larger footprint and more transparency.

Why it matters

Tesla's 'Robotaxi' program has a history of missed targets and safety concerns, and the company's lack of operational transparency raises questions about the readiness of its autonomous driving technology for public deployment. The contrast with Waymo's more established and transparent Texas operations highlights the challenges Tesla faces in scaling its self-driving ambitions.

The details

Tesla shared maps of the new service areas, which appear to cover small slices of Dallas and Houston, with the Houston geofence covering approximately 25 square miles. This is significantly smaller than Tesla's Austin geofence, which has grown to around 245 square miles over the past year. Tesla did not disclose details on fleet size, whether the vehicles will have safety monitors, or pricing for the new Robotaxi service.

• Tesla announced the Robotaxi launch in Dallas and Houston on April 18, 2026.
• Waymo has been operating in both Houston and Dallas since February 2026.

What’s next

Tesla has not provided any details on when the geofences in Dallas and Houston might expand or how the company plans to address the safety concerns that have plagued its Austin Robotaxi operations.