Tesla robotaxi safety limits cause delays as Waymo expands Houston service for 2026 World Cup

Tesla's robotaxi service in Texas is operating under strict safety constraints that have led to long passenger wait times and limited vehicle availability. Reuters reporters documented that in Austin, only 27% of requests found a vehicle and waits exceeded 15 minutes half the time; in Dallas a journalist spent nearly two hours on a trip that should have taken 20 minutes. Elon Musk told investors the rollout is limited by “rigorous safety validation,” not manufacturing, and the fleet remains around 50 vehicles in Austin compared with Waymo’s 250‑plus in the same market.

Waymo, the Alphabet‑owned autonomous‑vehicle firm, announced an expansion of its Houston robotaxi zone by roughly 50 square miles before the FIFA World Cup 2026. The new area includes East Downtown, the Texas Medical Center, northeast Houston and the NRG Stadium site that will host matches. Waymo began service in Houston in February and is adding coverage to meet expected event‑related demand, even as it reviews its response to recent flooding incidents on Texas roads.