# Tesla Robotaxi (Model Y ADS) at Houston — deployment

Canonical ID: `68771967-fe05-4fb1-a565-7d3521cbbf9e`

Operator: Tesla, robotaxi ride-hailing service launched in Houston on April 18, 2026 — part of Tesla's first expansion beyond Austin and the San Francisco Bay Area. The initial geofence covers approximately 25 square miles (per early user analysis of Tesla's published maps). Tesla disclosed no fleet size, supervision status, or pricing at launch; vehicles are likely Model Ys with in-car safety monitors. As of late May 2026, Robotaxi Tracker reported ~3 active unsupervised vehicles in Houston — unchanged from launch. Notably, the service shuts down during rain, a meaningful limitation given Houston averages 100+ rainy days per year.

Context: Waymo has operated in Houston since February 2026 with fully driverless vehicles. Figures are attributed to Tesla's announcement and Robotaxi Tracker, not independently audited.

## Key facts

- **Launched:** April 18, 2026
- **Geofence:** ~25 sq mi
- **Active vehicles:** ~3 (May 2026, per Robotaxi Tracker) — unchanged since launch
- **Limitation:** Service suspends in rain (Houston: 100+ rainy days/yr)

**Trust tier:** Catalog entry · 2 sources · not yet field-verified

_Last updated: 2026-05-26_

- **Slug:** tesla-robotaxi-houston
- **Status:** active
- **Model:** [Tesla Robotaxi (Model Y ADS)](/models/tesla-robotaxi.md) — id `29951756-3e69-44e2-bc13-aa01909c0098`
- **Company:** [Tesla](/companies/tesla.md) — id `bde7c8a1-5d35-449d-93b0-2ac8e4601c16`
- **Location:** [Houston](/locations/houston.md) — id `360f0034-a348-409b-b804-fdbf8b23794b`
- **First seen:** 2026-04-18T00:00:00.000Z

## Verification log (0, append-only)

_No verifications recorded._

## Sources (2)

1. **Tesla robotaxi Houston launch Apr 18 2026, ~25 sq mi, rain-limited, no fleet details** · https://electrek.co/2026/04/18/tesla-robotaxi-launches-dallas-houston-small-geofences/ · 2026-04-18
2. **Houston stuck at 3 active vehicles since launch** · https://electrek.co/2026/05/26/tesla-robotaxi-fleet-shrinking-not-growing/ · 2026-05-26

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