Tesla Shares Slip 1% as Waymo's Texas Robotaxi Fleet Tops by 535 Vehicles
TSLA•Tesla's authorized Texas robotaxi fleet totaled 42 vehicles versus Waymo's 577 and Avride's 317 under new state disclosure rules. Ex-Tesla data labelers and engineers reported Full Self-Driving struggles with emergency vehicles, school buses, pedestrians and near-miss incidents prompting last-second driver interventions.
1. Texas Autonomous Fleet Data
Newly released Texas autonomous vehicle filings show Tesla has 42 authorized driverless vehicles in the state, trailing Waymo's 577, Avride's 317 and Zoox's 35 under the Level 4 self-driving certification requirements. These figures reflect Tesla's robotaxi operation in Austin, Dallas and Houston nearly a year after launch.
2. FSD Safety Concerns Highlighted
A separate report by former Tesla data labelers and engineers detailed Full Self-Driving struggles in scenarios involving emergency vehicles, school buses, pedestrians and motorcyclists, citing near-miss incidents and last-second driver interventions. The feedback raised questions about Tesla's FSD performance and ongoing safety investigations into Autopilot and FSD-related incidents.
3. Stock Market Reaction
Following the disclosures, Tesla shares slipped 1% in after-hours trading, after climbing 0.4% to close at $442.10, marking the company’s best monthly performance since September and a second consecutive weekly gain. The market reaction underscores investor concerns over Tesla's competitive position and FSD progress.
