Austin Expands Oversight as Waymo and Tesla Grow Robotaxi Fleets

As the number of autonomous vehicles on city roads climbs, Austin City Council received a critical update Thursday on the challenges and progress surrounding self-driving technology. The briefing follows Tesla’s recent launch of its Model Y Robotaxis, which has spurred Waymo to double its operational zone in the city.

Currently, Waymo operates over 100 autonomous vehicles in Austin, while Tesla’s new fleet includes approximately 20 cars actively providing rides. Additional companies such as Zoox, Volkswagen, and Avride also have driverless models undergoing tests on city streets.

One of the city's most complex challenges is enforcing traffic and parking laws on vehicles without drivers. To date, only three citations have been issued. Because no operator is present to accept tickets, Austin remains the only U.S. city issuing such citations, which must be filed directly with the courts.

City officials highlighted continued difficulties with autonomous vehicles properly responding to police officers’ hand signals, posing potential safety concerns in real-world traffic scenarios.

Collaboration remains ongoing between city leaders and agencies such as CapMetro, Austin ISD, UT Austin, and state regulators, as they develop strategies to integrate self-driving cars into public infrastructure safely.

Council Member Natasha Harper-Madison of District 1 emphasized the importance of holding companies accountable for compliance with city regulations: “If it’s a public safety concern, just not doing it is not an option. The next best thing is for companies to incur the cost of compliance. We can’t carry that burden.”

An Austin police officer added that ticketing remains logistically challenging: “We’ve had ideas like officers leaving tickets in vehicles or emailing companies directly, but the complexity of the process often outweighs the benefits. The system needs streamlining.”

The city continues to assess how to ensure safety, accountability, and legal clarity as autonomous vehicles become a larger presence on Austin’s roads.