Long waits reported for Tesla's Texas robotaxi service

Tesla's robotaxi service in Texas is running into basic capacity and execution problems in its early expansion beyond Austin. Reuters reported on May 12 that its reporters testing the service in Dallas and Houston encountered long waits, repeated “high service demand” or “no rides available nearby” messages, and drop-offs that did not match the destination entered in the app. Tesla did not respond to Reuters' requests for comment. A Dallas ride described by Reuters became the clearest example of the problem. The outlet said a reporter trying to travel about 5 miles from Southern Methodist University to Dallas City Hall on a recent Monday afternoon spent nearly two hours on a trip that would typically take about 20 minutes. The reporter requested the ride at 4:55 p.m., then spent 36 minutes trying to book a car before one appeared as available, followed by another 19-minute wait for pickup. (money.usnews.com) Tesla's own robotaxi site says autonomous rides are currently being offered in Austin, Dallas and Houston, starting with Model Y vehicles rather than the purpose-built Cybercab. The company says riders book through the Robotaxi app on iOS or Android, and its support page says users enter a destination within the displayed service area, review an estimated fare and wait time, and then confirm the ride. The service issues matter because Tesla has been presenting the Texas rollout as the start of a broader autonomous push. (money.usnews.com) Reuters reported that Tesla expanded robotaxis to Dallas and Houston last month, while the service remains limited to those cities plus Austin. Reuters also said several analysts, after Tesla's first-quarter earnings report on April 22, described the expansion as slower than expected. On that earnings call, Musk said Tesla was taking a “cautious approach” to avoid injuries or fatalities, according to Reuters' account of the call. (tesla.com) A separate thread in the story is vehicle supply. TeslaNorth reported on May 13 that more than 70 Cybercabs were seen at Giga Texas in Austin, citing aerial footage and photos from drone operator Joe Tegtmeyer. The report said the vehicles were spread across three parking areas, with some also driving around the site, and described the count as the largest gathering of the steering-wheel-free vehicles seen so far. TeslaNorth said 40 units had been observed on May 8. (money.usnews.com) That production sighting does not change what riders are using now. Tesla's public robotaxi page says the live service is still “starting with Model Y,” while adding that Cybercab “will offer rides in your area in the future.” In other words, the dedicated robotaxi vehicle appears to be building up at the factory while the current commercial service in Texas continues to rely on existing Tesla models and is still showing signs of limited capacity. That is an inference based on Tesla's site and the Giga Texas sightings. (teslanorth.com) The next concrete markers are already public. Tesla says robotaxi rides are available now in Austin, Dallas and Houston through its app, and TeslaNorth reported on May 13 that Cybercab output at Giga Texas was still increasing as more than 70 vehicles were spotted at the Austin factory. (tesla.com)