Manufacturing Technology
Tesla’s Texas Tests Tainted By Mistakes As Waymo-Uber Robotaxis Enter Atlanta
Updated on Thu, Jun 26, 2025
Share
Last weekend, Tesla deployed its highly anticipated robotaxis in a limited launch on Austin, Texas, streets, a move that served as a test bed for a larger rollout.
The idea was to make rides available to a select few social media influencers and content creators for a flat fee of $4.20 using between 10 and 20 Model Y SUV robotaxis that didn’t have anyone seated in the driver’s seat but had one person in the passenger seat who was acting as a “safety monitor.”
The initial few reviews were positive, and the future of Tesla’s self-driving robotaxis looked bright.
On Monday, the automaker’s shares jumped 9%.
All this came despite Tesla choosing to ignore Texas lawmakers’ requests to wait until September, when new autonomous-driving laws are scheduled to come into effect.
Still, the optimistic outlook for the company's robotaxis seemed to be the right move, which even if there were chinks in the armor, they could be ironed out sooner rather than later, especially before the company opted for a larger rollout.
However, in the following days, that’s exactly what happened.
Tesla’s robotaxi success story was marred by negative reviews and mistakes, which included multiple traffic problems and driving issues such as entering the wrong lane, sudden braking without any obstruction in front, speeding, driving over curbs, driving on the wrong side of the road (which lasted 6 seconds), dropping riders off in the middle of the road or at intersections where it halted for a prolonged period, and more.
“Day 1 of Robotaxi testing with 20 initial riders! Caught a rare phantom braking moment on camera during our Waymo vs. Tesla Robotaxi race,” read a post on X by Kim Java, who added, “It’s a one-off glitch in Full Self-Driving mode—most rides were smooth!”
The sudden braking problem caused the car to jerk forward and drop the riders’ belongings to the floor.
Another video found a Tesla robotaxi abruptly stopped twice when passing police vehicles with flashing lights.
Such issues led numerous autonomous vehicle (AV) industry experts to cast doubts on Tesla’s ability to witness a successful rapid expansion.
However, others were more optimistic about Tesla’s chances of overtaking established brands such as Google’s Waymo and other major Chinese automakers, as it enjoys mass-manufacturing capabilities, uses cameras and artificial intelligence (AI) technology instead of sensors like its rivals, and has pioneered remote software updates. All of this is based on if and when the company perfects its software.
“A rollout could be really quick. If the software works, Tesla robotaxi could drive any road in the world,” said Seth Goldstein, a Morningstar senior equity analyst.
Amid the extensive pros-and-cons list reviewing Tesla’s new robotaxis, some even pointed out that the automaker’s rival, Waymo, took a long while to perfect its self-driving ride-hailing service.
Waymo’s self-driving project began all the way back in 2009, and in 2015, it took its first ride on public streets, coincidentally also in Austin, Texas.
It’s taken the better part of a decade for Waymo to scale its fleet to 1,500 vehicles spread across multiple cities, overcoming regulatory hurdles along the way. Now, the company plans to add another 2,000 vehicles by the end of 2026.
While that plan has a long way to come to fruition, the company is expanding its reach to new cities.
On Tuesday (June 24), Waymo and Uber announced that they were bringing Waymo’s robotaxis to Atlanta’s roads exclusively on the Uber app.
Uber riders who request an UberX, Comfort, or Comfort Electric could be matched with a Waymo fully autonomous all-electric Jaguar I-PACE vehicle—at no additional cost. Before the ride arrives, they’ll be provided with the option of sticking with the self-driving vehicle or switching to a human driver.
Using the app, users can unlock doors, open the trunk, and start trips. They will be offered 24/7 customer support through the app and Waymo’s in-car screens.
Initially, the AVs will operate across 65 square miles of Atlanta—from Downtown to Buckhead to Capitol View—and will expand in the future.
Talking about its success in Austin, where Waymo operates 100 vehicles, all of which are exclusive to Uber, the two companies said that customers have been providing an average rating of 4.9 stars, which serves as “proof that they’re enjoying the autonomous experience.”
To further enhance rides, Uber recently launched senior accounts, which offer a simpler app experience specifically designed for older adults. It comes with larger text, fewer buttons, trip updates, easy-to-follow screens, and is part of Uber’s Family profiles feature that allows loved ones to offer support when needed.
Easy to set up, the new app sports saved places, flexible payment options (personal, family member, or Medicare Flex cards for eligible medical rides), and other features that make it “easier than ever to book a ride.”
Additionally, Simple Mode brings users larger text, reduced complexity, and an easy-to-use interface.
“Transportation is one of the biggest barriers to independence as people age,” said Silvia Candamil Neira, VP, Global Initiative on Ageing and Longevity. “Solutions like Uber’s senior accounts help break down that barrier by offering a simple and flexible way for older adults to get where they need to go—without always having to rely on others. It’s about dignity, freedom, and staying connected to the people and places that matter most.”
The new features are available nationwide in the U.S. and will launch in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Brazil, Mexico, Chile, Portugal, France, South Africa, and India (Simple mode only).
Do you think Tesla will be able to overtake or even catch up with Waymo, considering the latter’s experience and expansion in the robotaxi sector?
Let us know in the comments below!
The idea was to make rides available to a select few social media influencers and content creators for a flat fee of $4.20 using between 10 and 20 Model Y SUV robotaxis that didn’t have anyone seated in the driver’s seat but had one person in the passenger seat who was acting as a “safety monitor.”
The initial few reviews were positive, and the future of Tesla’s self-driving robotaxis looked bright.
On Monday, the automaker’s shares jumped 9%.
All this came despite Tesla choosing to ignore Texas lawmakers’ requests to wait until September, when new autonomous-driving laws are scheduled to come into effect.
Still, the optimistic outlook for the company's robotaxis seemed to be the right move, which even if there were chinks in the armor, they could be ironed out sooner rather than later, especially before the company opted for a larger rollout.
However, in the following days, that’s exactly what happened.
Tesla’s robotaxi success story was marred by negative reviews and mistakes, which included multiple traffic problems and driving issues such as entering the wrong lane, sudden braking without any obstruction in front, speeding, driving over curbs, driving on the wrong side of the road (which lasted 6 seconds), dropping riders off in the middle of the road or at intersections where it halted for a prolonged period, and more.
“Day 1 of Robotaxi testing with 20 initial riders! Caught a rare phantom braking moment on camera during our Waymo vs. Tesla Robotaxi race,” read a post on X by Kim Java, who added, “It’s a one-off glitch in Full Self-Driving mode—most rides were smooth!”
The sudden braking problem caused the car to jerk forward and drop the riders’ belongings to the floor.
Another video found a Tesla robotaxi abruptly stopped twice when passing police vehicles with flashing lights.
Such issues led numerous autonomous vehicle (AV) industry experts to cast doubts on Tesla’s ability to witness a successful rapid expansion.
However, others were more optimistic about Tesla’s chances of overtaking established brands such as Google’s Waymo and other major Chinese automakers, as it enjoys mass-manufacturing capabilities, uses cameras and artificial intelligence (AI) technology instead of sensors like its rivals, and has pioneered remote software updates. All of this is based on if and when the company perfects its software.
“A rollout could be really quick. If the software works, Tesla robotaxi could drive any road in the world,” said Seth Goldstein, a Morningstar senior equity analyst.
Amid the extensive pros-and-cons list reviewing Tesla’s new robotaxis, some even pointed out that the automaker’s rival, Waymo, took a long while to perfect its self-driving ride-hailing service.
Waymo’s self-driving project began all the way back in 2009, and in 2015, it took its first ride on public streets, coincidentally also in Austin, Texas.
It’s taken the better part of a decade for Waymo to scale its fleet to 1,500 vehicles spread across multiple cities, overcoming regulatory hurdles along the way. Now, the company plans to add another 2,000 vehicles by the end of 2026.
While that plan has a long way to come to fruition, the company is expanding its reach to new cities.
On Tuesday (June 24), Waymo and Uber announced that they were bringing Waymo’s robotaxis to Atlanta’s roads exclusively on the Uber app.
Uber riders who request an UberX, Comfort, or Comfort Electric could be matched with a Waymo fully autonomous all-electric Jaguar I-PACE vehicle—at no additional cost. Before the ride arrives, they’ll be provided with the option of sticking with the self-driving vehicle or switching to a human driver.
Using the app, users can unlock doors, open the trunk, and start trips. They will be offered 24/7 customer support through the app and Waymo’s in-car screens.
Initially, the AVs will operate across 65 square miles of Atlanta—from Downtown to Buckhead to Capitol View—and will expand in the future.
Talking about its success in Austin, where Waymo operates 100 vehicles, all of which are exclusive to Uber, the two companies said that customers have been providing an average rating of 4.9 stars, which serves as “proof that they’re enjoying the autonomous experience.”
To further enhance rides, Uber recently launched senior accounts, which offer a simpler app experience specifically designed for older adults. It comes with larger text, fewer buttons, trip updates, easy-to-follow screens, and is part of Uber’s Family profiles feature that allows loved ones to offer support when needed.
Easy to set up, the new app sports saved places, flexible payment options (personal, family member, or Medicare Flex cards for eligible medical rides), and other features that make it “easier than ever to book a ride.”
Additionally, Simple Mode brings users larger text, reduced complexity, and an easy-to-use interface.
“Transportation is one of the biggest barriers to independence as people age,” said Silvia Candamil Neira, VP, Global Initiative on Ageing and Longevity. “Solutions like Uber’s senior accounts help break down that barrier by offering a simple and flexible way for older adults to get where they need to go—without always having to rely on others. It’s about dignity, freedom, and staying connected to the people and places that matter most.”
The new features are available nationwide in the U.S. and will launch in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Brazil, Mexico, Chile, Portugal, France, South Africa, and India (Simple mode only).
Do you think Tesla will be able to overtake or even catch up with Waymo, considering the latter’s experience and expansion in the robotaxi sector?
Let us know in the comments below!
First published on Thu, Jun 26, 2025
Enjoyed what you read? Great news – there’s a lot more to explore!
Dive into our content repository of the latest tech news, a diverse range of articles spanning introductory guides, product reviews, trends and more, along with engaging interviews, up-to-date AI blogs and hilarious tech memes!
Also explore our collection of branded insights via informative white papers, enlightening case studies, in-depth reports, educational videos and exciting events and webinars from leading global brands.
Head to the TechDogs homepage to Know Your World of technology today!
Disclaimer - Reference to any specific product, software or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by TechDogs nor should any data or content published be relied upon. The views expressed by TechDogs' members and guests are their own and their appearance on our site does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Views and opinions expressed by TechDogs' Authors are those of the Authors and do not necessarily reflect the view of TechDogs or any of its officials. While we aim to provide valuable and helpful information, some content on TechDogs' site may not have been thoroughly reviewed for every detail or aspect. We encourage users to verify any information independently where necessary.
Loading comments...