This article first appeared on GuruFocus.
Tesla Inc. (TSLA, Financials) is still in the early innings of its robotaxi push in Texas, with state data showing its authorized fleet is much smaller than Waymo’s.
Tesla has 42 authorized robotaxis in Texas, according to a database on the state Department of Motor Vehicles website. Waymo’s fleet is more than 10 times larger, giving the Alphabet-backed company a clear scale advantage in one of the most closely watched autonomous driving markets.
For investors, the numbers put Tesla’s robotaxi ambitions into sharper focus. The company has talked for years about self-driving technology becoming a major long-term business, but the current fleet size shows that scaling the service remains a gradual process.
That does not mean Tesla is out of the race. The company has a large vehicle base, strong software focus and loyal investor following. Still, robotaxi deployment is about more than ambition. It requires regulatory clearance, safety performance, operational reliability and public trust.
Waymo’s larger footprint suggests it currently has the lead in Texas deployment. Tesla’s next challenge is turning its technology roadmap into a larger commercial fleet.
