EVwire brief: Tesla launched its fully unsupervised Robotaxi service in Dallas and Houston on April 18, 2026. The service uses Model Y vehicles with no safety driver or front-seat monitor from day one, marking Tesla’s first new-city launches without a supervised phase.
An early ride recorded $6.15 for 2.25 miles, about 56% cheaper than Waymo for the same trip.
Tesla announced the new service in a post on its official Robotaxi account on X. The launch was also highlighted by Elon Musk in his account:
Context:
Tesla’s Robotaxi service is now live in three U.S. cities: Austin, Dallas, and Houston. Dallas and Houston stand out because they launched fully unsupervised immediately, skipping the phased rollout Tesla used in Austin.
The service runs through the Tesla app and currently uses Model Y SUVs, with videos confirming empty front seats (no human safety monitor!) inside the vehicle.
Coverage is intentionally limited at launch. Houston’s service area spans roughly 25 square miles, while Dallas is focused around Highland Park and nearby neighborhoods. Fleet size is minimal, with the Robotaxi tracker only showing ~1 active vehicle per city as per initial community reports.
The small Robotaxi fleet that Tesla deployed in Houston and Dallas has resulted in inconsistent availability and early wait times, with some customers stating that they waited over 20 minutes before they could book a ride.
What early Tesla robotaxi pricing shows in Dallas
One early ride provides a clear benchmark for how Tesla is positioning the service. Here’s the ride’s details:
Distance: 2.25 miles
Time: 7 minutes
Price: $6.15
Comparison: ~$13.93 for the same trip on Waymo
That puts Tesla at roughly 56% lower cost in this example, though no official pricing structure has been released yet.
Initial rider feedback has been consistent, describing the experience as smooth, assertive, and uneventful. Minor issues such as navigation quirks have been reported, but no major incidents have surfaced in Dallas or Houston during the first 48 hours.
How this rollout differs and what comes next
Austin’s rollout followed a more gradual path, launching with safety monitors in June 2025 before transitioning to unsupervised rides in January 2026. Dallas and Houston are skipping that step entirely, launching unsupervised from day one.
(Source)
At the same time, Tesla’s expansion appears broader than what is publicly visible. Based on a Robotaxi program tracker from Tesla community member Jonathan Stokes.
3 cities now offering unsupervised Robotaxi service
Tesla’s biggest fleet is in California, but the service is still supervised
Activity in 39 cities through hiring, testing, and mapping
This suggests Tesla is preparing multiple markets in parallel while scaling gradually within each city. The current phase remains early, with small fleets and tight geofences, but the groundwork for expansion is already in place.
We closely follow the developments in the emerging Robotaxi industry. Consider subscribing to our Robotaxi Report, which tracks the biggest developments in the sector, worldwide. You can check our latest report here.
Source: Tesla Robotaxi, sladoc, and Sawyer Merritt on X
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