Waymo dominates autonomous vehicle registrations as Tesla trails behind

Waymo is setting a remarkable pace in the autonomous vehicle sector, with nearly 600 of its vehicles registered in Texas. This impressive number significantly surpasses competitors such as Avride, Nuro, Tesla, and Zoox, according to a new tracking tool launched by the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles. This innovative automated vehicle tracker provides the public with a clear and accessible view of the autonomous vehicle landscape in Texas, following a state law enacted on May 28 that mandates AV companies to register their fleets with the DMV. The law requires companies testing or deploying autonomous vehicles in Texas to disclose not only the size of their fleets but also essential safety information. The data illustrates the substantial gap between Waymo and Tesla, both of which operate commercial robotaxi services. As of now, Waymo, a subsidiary of Alphabet, leads with 577 registered autonomous vehicles, followed by Avride with 317 and Nuro with 47. In contrast, Tesla, which initiated a robotaxi service in Austin last summer and has expanded to Dallas and Houston, has only registered 42 autonomous vehicles. Other notable players include Volkswagen's MOIA, which operates a fleet of 12 electric and autonomous microbuses. However, it’s important to note that the size of an autonomous vehicle fleet doesn't fully reflect a company's market position. For example, companies like Nuro and Zoox are not currently engaged in commercial operations, and the registration numbers do not indicate how many vehicles are actively in use. Waymo itself recently paused operations in certain Texas cities due to challenges related to flood conditions. Despite these nuances, Waymo's current dominance in Texas is evident. The registration tool will also allow for tracking growth over time, as Waymo launched its commercial service in Austin in March 2025 and has since expanded into Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio. Additionally, the website offers insights into other applications of autonomous vehicle technology, such as self-driving trucks. Aurora, a publicly traded company, recently launched a commercial driverless trucking service and has registered 91 self-driving trucks, while Kodiak AI and Waabi have 33 and 13 self-driving trucks, respectively. Gatik AI, focusing on self-driving mid-sized trucks, has a fleet of 64 vehicles.